The Mzansi son has already started a new journey in North Africa after his success in the country with the Brazilians.
South African Rulani Mokwena is set for a new journey in coaching outside of Mzansi for the first time in his career.
The situation was necessitated by the unceremonious exit from the Premier Soccer League champions Mamelodi Sundowns. Grapevine has it that the Masandawana Sporting Director Flemming Berg played a huge role in the 37-year-old's exit.
After winning the league in the 2022/23 season, as well as reaching the Caf Champions League semi-final, Mokwena's deal at Downs was extended by four years. Just a year later, he is now with Moroccan outfit Wydad Athletic Club where he has been handed a three-year deal.
The story of Mokwena as Downs head coach
The exit of Pitso Mosimane to Al Ahly in the 2021/22 season ended with Manqoba Mngqithi, Steve Komphela, and Mokwena being handed the mantle as co-coaches. The shared responsibility didn't work out for long as expected. Struggles in the PSL coupled with a loss to Orlando Pirates in the MTN8 semi-final invited changes in the technical bench.
Mokwena was given the sole mandate to coach the team with Mngqithi and Komphela serving as his assistants. In the last two seasons, he won three major titles; two PSL crowns and the inaugural African Football League.
He secured the PSL with 73 points, a new record in Mzansi, eclipsing Mosimane's initial high of 71 points.
Why is Mokwena's Sundowns' exit a blessing in disguise?
Mokwena has been credited with the slick style of play by the club which commanded possession and overwhelmed opponents. The fans – both in and out of Mzansi lauded Downs for their beautiful game.
However, despite his success, critics argued he was riding on Mosimane's project, that the foundation was made by the 59-year-old former Bafana Bafana coach. They argued that initial struggles at Orlando Pirates and Chippa United proved Mokwena is half-baked.
Last season, Wydad AC struggled in Morocco, eventually ending up sixth in the Botola Pro League. Mokwane has a golden opportunity to prove he was not winning in Mzansi by luck and just like Mokwena, he can build a team.
Is Mokwena, really, among the continent's best?
Whether Mokwena fits the bill to dine with the best in Africa is another question that has been lingering in the heads of many football stakeholders.
In the last two seasons, Mokwena has had a fairly impressive outing in the continent. He beat some of the good teams convincingly – like the 5-2 win over Al Ahly in the 2022/23 Caf Champions League journey, only to be eliminated by, coincidentally, Wydad AC in the semi-final.
Downs were among the eight teams that played in the 2023 African Football League and they successfully went all the way.
In the last two years, Mokwena has reached the last four hurdle in the Caf Champions League. Well, if he can replicate his successes with the Moroccan outfit, he surely will have something to brag about.
It is time to taste the waters
Many people might forget that Mokwena is just 37 despite his achievements. Mokwena was not short of suitors in South Africa. One of the teams were Kaizer Chiefs who had not officially confirmed Nasreddine Nabi despite the agreements in place.
However, Mokwena decided to join the Wydad AC project. It is the first time he will be coaching out of the country.
Mosimane and Fadlu Davids are the most recent South Africans who have opened their wings abroad and have enjoyed immense success.
Mokwena has the opportunity to be among them and prove, as Jingles said, that Mzansi can produce the finest coaches.
What has PSL lost?
The Premier Soccer League is not going to be the same without Mokwena owing to his vibrancy and dare-the-devil attitude.
Lest we forget, he was not afraid to share his thoughts bravely; he told off Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos to protect his players from fatigue, he was always at loggerheads with TS Galaxy tactician Sead Ramovic owing to on-pitch battles.
Mokwena enjoyed a close relationship with his players and was not afraid to show it. In the Nedbank Cup final against Orlando Pirates, he went to the extent of asking Khuliso Mudau to give his best despite a shoulder injury. The Bafana international went on to finish the game.
It is interesting to see whether Mngqithi and Komphela will sustain the flare in Sundowns game which Mokwena mastered, and of course, the dominance.
