‘I paid out of my own pocket’ Rulani Mokwena reveals a lot about his time with Wydad

It was not a happy ending for the South African with Wydad, although Mokwena got off to a good start with the Moroccan giants, but towards the end of his career he suffered from poor results that led to a crossroads between him and the Reds.

Recently, rumours have been circulating about the immediate reasons behind the former Mamelodi Sundowns coach's departure from the Moroccan side, only for him to come out and speak about the issues and pressures he faced at Wydad Athletic Club.

Al Wydad finished the season in sixth place and did not secure direct qualification to the Champions League next season, which was one of the direct reasons for the breakdown of the relationship between the two parties.

Mokwena blows the whistle on Wydad

Rolani Mokoena has responded to allegations that the coach has withdrawn his interest in Wydad and that they have parted ways due to psychological issues and pressures, denying all such allegations and rumours, saying they are completely unfounded.

f you go to the website and their social media pages, that statement was actually removed 10 minutes after it was posted. Even the situation of taking a break was not from me. I had no issues with pressure and psychological breakdowns and all these things. As a coach I was prepared to step down because there was a lot of talk. I remember one day I said to the president, ‘I cannot take it when I invest so much. I work so hard to bring so many players’. Almost all of them for free, and I have to sometimes, from my own pocket, pay some of the players, pay some of the staff, go and buy training equipment from my own pocket, and invest in the club.

Mokwena said.

And then I have a vice president of the club asking me ‘do you love this club’. I would never subject myself to some of the things that happened, and still, be subjected to some of the treatment. That’s when I said to the president, maybe there’s a misalignment somewhere, and it would be better for me to step down.

Mokwena comcluded.