Rulani Mokwena earns high praise from Pitso Mosimane after first trophy in Algeria

Pitso Mosimane has reserved praise for Rulani Mokwena after the former Mamelodi Sundowns coach won his first trophy in Algeria.

Mokwena led MC Alger to the Algerian Super Cup on Saturday after a 1-0 victory over rivals USM Alger at a time when his team enjoys a 12-point lead at the top of the league standings.

Mosimane is among those thrilled with what Mokwena is doing and feels the 39-year-old is vindicating him after he said the ex-Wydad AC coach is so good that he will one day surpass him.

What has Pitso said over Rulani?

“When I recruited him [Mokwena] from our U19 team to be my assistant at the Senior Team, one journalist asked me to justify my decision,” Mosimane posted on X, recalling how he gave Mokwena a chance as one of his assistants at Sundowns.

“I only told him that, with time Rulani will be better than me. There was silence in that media room and few people doubted (even within the team) and did not understand and foresee all what I see. The worst part was again justifying my decision to recruit him back in my technical team after Chippa United fired him.”

Mosimane is thrilled to see what is coming from his student, who has since established himself as one of the most progressive and successful coaches in Africa, despite still being relatively young.

Exactly! When I recruited him from our u19 team to be my assistant at the Senior Team , one journalist asked me to justify my decision.
I only told him that , with time Rulani will be better than me .There was silence in that media room and few people doubted (even within the…

— Pitso Mosimane (@TheRealPitso) January 17, 2026

“I could not suppress that talent that few knew about it. End of the story, you can track his journey up to date! One day he will be back in SA to share and support the experience that he is currently gathering,” he added.

Mosimane shaped Mokwena’s career

Mosimane worked with Mokwena at Sundowns from 2014-2017 before leaving for Orlando Pirates, where he was assistant and then interim coach, after which he departed in 2020 for a stint as head coach of Chippa United in March 2020.

He spent just over three months with the Chilli Boys before he left and linked up with Mosimane again that year. When ‘Jingles’ left Sundowns to join Egyptian giants Al Ahly, Mokwena was made co-coach alongside Manqoba Mngqithi and the duo won two titles.

However, Sundowns named him head coach and he went on to implement an exciting style as his team won back-to-back PSL crowns but he left in July 2024 to join Moroccan giants Wydad, where he lasted over eight months, before his stint with MC Alger started ahead of this season.