Wydad Athletic Club coach Rhulani Mokwena believes the Botola Pro league’s unique style of play is pushing him to become a better coach.
Mokwena has faced a challenging start at Wydad, inheriting a squad that underwent significant changes with over 20 players both leaving and joining ahead of the 2024/25 season. The team also lacked confidence after missing out on CAF inter-club competitions and a trophy-less previous season, compounded by 14 coaching changes in the four years preceding his arrival.
Following some inconsistent results, the Wydad board reportedly initiated a four-match review of Mokwena’s position, beginning with a 2-1 victory against Moghreb Tetouan, which was followed by another win.
Speaking to CAF TV, Mokwena highlighted the differences between the PSL and the Botola Pro. “I found the differences [between PSL and Botola], part of it is cultural, the cultures influence the production of the players, if you look at the South African culture, very exuberant, off the cuff even sometimes, people express themselves a lot and freely so,” he said.
“I think Moroccan culture is a bit more conservative, and that’s the style you even get in the football, and the players are a lot more conservative and very disciplined tactically, you give them an instruction and they do exactly what you say.
“As opposed to the South African player who can add a little bit of their own touch to the instructions… but the physicality is a big point, in the Botola, you have to manage the duels, win the second balls – and dominate the second attack, you have to.
“It’s something I have learned in the last 10 matches, and as a coach I have never put on a session for second balls and dominating it, winning aerial duels, but I have stretched myself and I’ve done so many sessions, leaping into an uncomfortable space.
“But it’s a space that stretches me and makes me better, because when you’re not doing things that you routinely do, and can do so easily, you develop as a coach, you learn and improve, this is what the Botola has done, made me a better coach.
“Some of the teams, some of the games and even my players have taught me so many new things already and I think from a cultural perspective, the game is too contrasting. There’s one on one extreme and one on the other extreme. But at the same time, they are both meaningful in their own ways.
“You saw the success of Morocco in the World Cup, and Olympics, 18 points in the qualifiers, unbeaten, winning all games even as the host nation, tells you a lot about the mentality and the professionalism of the footballers. And the thinking behind the football.”