Newly appointed Wydad Athletic Club boss Rulani Mokwena acknowledges the difficulty of reviving the Moroccan giants but remains optimistic about restoring their former glory.

The 37-year-old coach, formerly with Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates, signed a three-year deal on Thursday after a reported rift with Sundowns’ sporting director Flemming Berg. Unveiled at the Mohamed Benjelloun Complexe, Mokwena addressed the challenge head-on.

Wydad, 22-time Moroccan league champions, finished a disappointing sixth last season, missing out on CAF competitions.

“I understand how big this challenge is, believe me, I don’t come here with my eyes closed. The negotiations have taken quite a long time because there were quite a few things we had to agree on,” Mokwena told the media.  

“The one thing I appreciate is that the board is as ambitious as I am and has committed themselves to giving us full support to wake up a sleeping giant, and I think our job is not to teach Wydad how to win as a football club”

He emphasized reminding Wydad of its winning pedigree: ” I mean 22 league titles, three Champions Leagues, it’s a team that knows how to win,” he said.  

“Ours is just to come here and remind them of what Wydad stands for, and when you speak about love, when I did my history on the club, I found out that Wydad means love and appreciation.  

“So, the same appreciation I once felt from the supporters as an opponent, I’m grateful that things have turned and now I receive the same amount of love and maybe even more as I join this incredible family.  

“So yeah, it’s going to be a tough task.”  

Mokwena, who previously faced Wydad with Sundowns in both the African Football League (winning) and the Champions League (losing in the semifinals), acknowledged the support from fans and management. “The board also understands how difficult it’s going to be, the supporters understand how difficult it’s going to be, but difficult doesn’t mean impossible and our job is to get this club back to where it belongs,” he said.

Article by Trevor Magoro