Rhulani Mokwena edges closer to Wydad move, with other offers on the table
Rhulani Mokwena is edging ever closer to taking over as head coach of Wydad Casablanca in Morocco. Mokwena is expected to travel to Casablanca on this Thursday and satisfy himself on a few key areas before putting pen to paper on a contract.
The 37-year-old coach, who still has the football shocked after his unceremonious exit from Mamelodi Sundowns, has other offers to consider as well. It is understood USM Alger of Algeria have tabled an offer. However, the Wydad proposition is the one Mokwena and his team want to explore first.
Mokwena had hinted at taking a sabbatical after leaving Sundowns. It is a testament to his achievements that top clubs are not willing to see him rest on the touchlines of the ABC Motsepe League. A record-breaking season that saw him one game out of thirty may not be good enough for Mamelodi Sundowns, but many clubs are willing to pay top dollar for him to try the same for them.
Steve Kapelushnick, who has represented Mokwena for a while, is already in Morocco. Kapelushnick wants to make sure his client gets as much of what he wants before Mokwena himself flies to the Wydad camp. Mokwena wants to know how much control he will have over transfers, a sticking point in his Sundowns exit decision.
If he is announced as head coach, Mokwena’s immediate task will be to improve Wydad’s league position. Another sixth-place finish is not what the Red Army of Wydad is looking for. With arch-rivals, Raja Casablanca winning the league unbeaten, Mokwena will have his work cut out in terms of winning the Botola Pro.
There will also be the small matter of potentially playing against Mamelodi Sundowns in the CAF Champions League and doing well at the Club World Cup in 2025.
