Mokwena Praises Mosimane's Influence on South African Coaches in Africa
MC Alger coach Rulani Mokwena has praised his former colleague Pitso Mosimane, attributing much of the recent success of South African coaches in Africa to Mosimane's achievements.
In a recent interview with SAFJA, Mokwena noted that Mosimane's tenure with Al Ahly in Egypt significantly changed the perception of South African coaches in the continent.
During his successful period at Al Ahly from 2020 to 2022, Mosimane led the team to impressive accomplishments, including six trophies: the Egyptian Premier League, Egypt Cup, two CAF Champions League titles, and two CAF Super Cups.
Before moving to Al Ahly, Mosimane left Sundowns, where he had just secured a treble in the 2019/20 season, with Mokwena as his assistant coach.
“Coach Pitso had a big influence on that (SA coaches getting opportunities in North Africa),” Mokwena reflected, emphasizing Mosimane's success in the Champions League and his professionalism.
Mokwena praised Mosimane's skill in managing a large group and handling pressures associated with top-tier clubs.
“His ability to manage a big changing room showcased that South African coaches can handle the pressure from fans and the management of significant clubs,” he added.
Mokwena, who has also made strides in North Africa by coaching Wydad Casablanca and now MC Alger, expressed his gratitude to Mosimane for paving the way.
“Coach Pitso deserves a lot of credit for opening the way,” he stated. “I am grateful for the time I spent working alongside him.”
Mokwena's experiences underscore how Mosimane's success has created opportunities for other South African coaches to thrive in North Africa.
His own journey began in 2024 at Wydad Casablanca before transitioning to his current role at MC Alger. Another notable South African coach in the region is Fadlu Davids, now leading Raja Casablanca in Morocco, who previously collaborated with Mokwena as assistants at Orlando Pirates.
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