Wydad Casablanca coach,  Rulani Mokwena shares his desire to transform the football personality and mentality of his new Moroccan club as stage number one of his five-point long-term project. 

Days after his unforeseen dismissal as Mamelodi Sundowns coach in July, Mokwena joined Wydad as the new boss in a space of days, bringing a team of five other South African football heads. 

The 37-year-old championed a successful campaign as Sundowns head coach, clinching three major trophies in a season and a half. In the process, the South African tactician made himself popular to the African football fraternity, dominating giants with his possession-based, modern, and attractive playing style at ‘The Brazilians’.

With Wydad and most of the prominent North African sides being famous for their direct and aggressive personality on the field, Mokwena’s move to Morocco sought to case of curiosity as to whether he or the club would have to undergo an adaptation process. 

The former Orlando Pirates coach rather made a crystal clear elucidation that the process of conquest at Wydad would have to twitch, as he plans to not only win trophies but do it in style. 

“We want to do it differently, the club has got a different personality and to try to change that is going to take some time but we are committed to it,” he said. 

“We want to do the best that we can, we want to give the club a new identity. This is what the board has asked of me, to play differently and of course, that way has to be the best way to play and get results.” 

The former Chippa United coach made no mistake in emphasizing that his project at the Red Castle demands patience and time, which is an attribute that North African clubs are not well known for. 

“It is still a project that we have to invest a lot of time into you know, trying to change the culture and the mentality of the players is probably my greatest challenge at the moment,” clarified the former Downs assistant coach. 

In his urge to execute his master plan at Wydad, Mokwena highlighted that similar to big clubs in the world like Barcelona who are known for their short passing game, and Liverpool who are famous for their swift counterattacks, Wydad should be identified with a particular style of play as well. 

“The club has received so much success in the past doing things a different way and playing a different way but big clubs all over the world have some form of stamp you know, there’s a personality and that’s the first part of our five-point plan,” said Mokwena.

Evident to the gaffer’s sentiments, Wydad’s 1-1 friendly against Club Africain of Tunisia on Sunday sparked a glimpse of what is known as Mokwena’s ideal personality, with Wydad players frequently knocking the ball in short passes in their progression.

Importantly, Mokwena will have time to put his tactics together as Wydad will not be involved in the CAF Champions League next season, the competition they won in 2021/22 season.

So far Mokwena’s Wydad has signed 12 players ahead of next season.