Wydad Athletic Club captain Jamal Harkass has praised the impact coach Rulani Mokwena has had on the team since his arrival at the club last July.
Mokwena found it tough initially at Wydad, with the many signings that the club brought in struggling to find their rhythm, leading to an inconstant run of results.
However, Mokwena’s team have been on the up in the last one-and-a-half months, going unbeaten in their last five matches, including four straight league wins, before a draw last weekend that has left them second on the table and in with a chance for a CAF Champions League spot.
Harkass is impressed with what he has seen so far from the former Mamelodi Sundowns coach and is also happy to help him out by motivating the rest of his team-mates.
What has Mokwena brought to the club?
“He’s a great coach. He always motivates us to give more on the pitch, and that’s an incentive for us to do our best to prepare for the Club World Cup,” Harkass told FIFA.
“I always tell my teammates that when representing a big club like Wydad, you have to respect the club’s history and fans by giving your all on the pitch.
“That’s how you achieve good results and deliver your best in the African tournaments and the FIFA Club World Cup. We hope to have a great tournament and live up to the Moroccan public’s expectations.”
Wydad will be among the four African clubs at the revamped 32-team FIFA Club World Cup in June and July but are in a tough Group G that has Premier League champions Manchester City, Italian giants Juventus and Al Ain from the United Arab Emirates.
Wydad in tough Club World Cup group
Harkass admits it will be a tough outing at the June 14-July 13 tournament in the United States but is drawing inspiration from Morocco’s historic run to the 2022 World Cup semi-final in Qatar.
“The players are looking forward to these matches and we are already working hard to get ready for them,” he added.
“No doubt, Manchester City will be a tough match considering they’re former European champions. We have to play at a high level without mistakes, as it’s one of those matches that will be won on small details.”
Mokwena and his charges have a tough league match coming up on Saturday as they play away to leaders RS Berkane, who enjoy a 15-point lead over them.
