‘He must be careful of that space’: Pitso Mosimane warns Rulani Mokwena

Published on by Nkosiyabuya Sithole, updated on

Former Al Ahly coach Pitso Mosimane believes newly appointed Wydad Casablanca mentor Rulani Mokwena will settle well in North Africa but has sent him a warning ahead of new season.

Mokwena was appointed by Red Castle after parting ways with Mamelodi Sundowns three weeks ago.

He recently took charge of training as the team prepares for the upcoming season, aiming to rebound from a disappointing 2023/24 campaign.

Mosimane, a former Al Ahly coach with significant success in North Africa, believes Mokwena must be astute, given the distinct cultural differences between North Africa and South Africa.

He advises Mokwena to limit media exposure, suggesting that the coach was perhaps overly comfortable with the South African media landscape. Mosimane cautions him to be mindful of his words when speaking to the media in North Africa.

PITSO MOSIMANE’S MESSAGE TO RULANI MOKWENA

“I haven’t spoken to Rulani, let him settle, if he needs anything, he knows, we are friends, and he can call… you know how I felt when he left [Sundowns], I said my part, I didn’t feel good but now he’s at Wydad, there you are, that’s a big club on the continent,” said Mosimane as quoted by iDiski Times.

“Those clubs are [the] top four clubs in Africa, you can’t ignore them. He will still come here and meet Orlando Pirates, meet Kaizer Chiefs, and Mamelodi Sundowns. He will settle but needs to be a little smart, the culture is not the same as South Africa.

“He will learn fast [because] there you have to be a little bit calm, it’s different, it’s not like here, because once you don’t do well, it becomes a problem.

“I think the interviews, Rulani is always in the media, I see he is enjoying the space there, he must be very careful of that space, it’s a difficult space, it’s not an easy space, trust me I know it you must be scarce from the media there [in North Africa].”

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Nkosiyabuya Sithole

Nkosiyabuya Sithole, a young and rising sports journalist based in Durban, South Africa, harbors a deep passion for football. Nevertheless, he aspires to become a well-rounded journalist, adept in various areas of the field.

Nkosi's career began in 2020, working as a home-based writer during the COVID-19 pandemic. He has since written for various websites, including Briefly News, FiND-iT News, and The South African. Attending live sporting events is a particular pleasure for him, as they provide opportunities for interaction with sports personalities.

Outside of the office, he's a God-fearing and affable young man.