‘Some people don’t want me here’- Rulani Mokwena on Wydad challenges
Wydad Casablanca head coach Rulani Mokwena has spoken about the challenges he faces at the club, revealing that some people do not want his presence at the Moroccan giants.
Mokwena expressed his concerns on the lack of support at Wydad following his troops’ entertaining 2-2 draw against FUS Rabat in the Botola Pro 1 at the Stade Larbi Zaouli on Monday.
Wydad conceded a late goal against FUS Rabat to drop points at home as the fight for a second-place finish is heating up. Mokwena’s men missed an opportunity to solidify their position on the second spot and slipped to third place.
AS FAR leapfrogged Wydad to take the number two spot on the Botola league table via a superior goal difference as the two teams are level on 42 points.
Wydad Casablanca are pushing to finish within the top two in Morocco to qualify for the CAF Champions League next season. They missed this season’s Champions League after finishing sixth on the table in the previous campaign.
With Wydad showing signs of improvement under Mokwena, who joined the team at the start of the season from Mamelodi Sundowns, the club’s supporters are seemingly unhappy with the progress.
In the past few months, Wydad fans have thrown missiles onto the pitch to express their unhappiness with the team. Mokwena has called out the behaviour, stating that he knows that some people don’t want him at Wydad.
RULANI MOKWENA LAMENTS LACK OF SUPPORT FROM WYDAD CASABLANCA FANS
“I’m happy with the effort of the players, and it makes me happy. In football, you can’t win every game. I can’t sit here every time and explain that football is win, lose or draw; even Wydad cannot win every game,” Mokwena said after the match against FUS Rabat.
“I’ve grown up in football, ever since I was a kid, and I have an understanding that in football it’s about effort, commitment and you give everything that you can.
“So if you win, excellent; if you lose because the opponent is better, you shake hands and go try to improve. If you draw, you look at the positives and also fix the negatives.
“I know you guys don’t want me to say this, but we are a new team; it’s 26 new players, and we are fighting for a Champions League spot. I understand we haven’t won anything in two years; I understand there’s hunger for Champions League, and believe me, there’s no one who’s more hungry to play Champions League than me. I was in the semifinals two years in a row [with Sundowns].
“Look, I had options to join clubs that play Champions League, I saw how Wydad fans love their team and show love to me, this is why I didn’t go to AS FAR, this is why I didn’t go to Raja [Casablanca]. But what I see now, the lack of support, the lack of patience, and it’s not easy guys.”
RULANI MOKWENA FASTING WITH WYDAD PLAYERS FOR RAMADAN
“Do you know that this is my first Ramadan as a coach? It’s difficult, I’m fasting with the players so that I can feel what they are going through.
“What I see every week, throwing of bottles and all of that, I don’t like it. Maybe some people don’t want me here for long, and that’s okay, but while I’m here, Wydad will fight till death.”
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