Wydad AC star sends heartfelt message to Rulani Mokwena

Wydad AC attacker Mohamed Rayhi and departed coach Rulani Mokwena. Photo Credit: Wydad Athletic Club/Facebook

Wydad Athletic Club star Mohamed Rayhi has sent an emotional farewell message to outgoing coach Rulani Mokwena.

Rayhi took to his Facebook page to react to Wydad Athletic Club's confirmation that the South African coach will leave at the end of the season.

"I can't thank you enough for what you did to me, how you treat me, how you make me a better person and a better player. You are an amazing human being and an amazing coach. You make alot of things better in Wydad what people outside don't know. Thank you for everything and I wish you all the best in the future," he wrote.

Rayhi is Botola Pro League's leading scorer with 10 goals. Rulani Mokwena is technically no longer the coach for the Botola Pro League team following Wydad's latest announcement that it has granted the South African an exceptional leave beyond the side’s last match of the season.

The statement released on Tuesday further adds that management for the Moroccan giants will formally terminate Rulani Mokwena’s contract at the end of the season.

“The board of directors of Wydad Athletic Club announces, at the request of the first-team coach, Rulani Mokwena, that he has been granted an exceptional leave extending beyond the team’s last match in the professional championship, due to the great psychological pressures he has experienced recently,” the club’s statement reads.

Wydad has since named Amine Benhachem as the team’s interim coach for the rest of the season until a substantive appointment is made.

With 14 wins, 14 draws, and seven defeats in all competitions, the former Mamelodi Sundowns mentor is leaving after enduring a tough spell in Morocco. He earlier confirmed that he would step down with Wydad AC lying in third place 15 points behind champions-in-waiting RSB Berkane, saying the Moroccan side deserves a better coach than him.

The former Sundowns handler has often vented his frustrations over a lack of patience, even when his team has more new players who are still adapting.