By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Wydad Cassablanca head coach Rulani Mokwena was escorted out of the stadium by security after his side suffered a 1-0 defeat to 10-man RS Berkane on Saturday.
The club have had a difficult start to the Botola Pro 1 season, and currently occupy sixth place in the league.
Mokwena joined the Moroccan giants in July after being sacked by Mamelodi Sundowns at the end of last season.
Upon his arrival at Wydad AC, Mokwena has so far signed 15 players including former Sundowns star Cassius Mailula as he seeks to change the club’s fortunes.
The South African coach also made changes in the club’s technical team. He brought a couple of his backroom staff – including a few he worked with at Sundowns.
The 37-year-old had a great pre-season with the three-time Caf Champions League winners – having won and drawn several games.
Fullview learnt that patience is starting to wear thin with Mokwena with the club’s hierarchy asking for a meeting to discuss the team’s poor performance.
Mokwena pleaded for fans to stay patient as he promises to take the team back to its winning ways.
“I promise the Wydad Casablanca fans that we will not let them down. There is a lot of work inside Wydad, and I am not afraid to work under pressure,” he said.
“I am optimistic about Wydad’s journey, and the team will have its say in the upcoming rounds.”
Mokwena comes from South African football royalty, his father Julius and grandfather Eric are considered Orlando Pirates legends, while his uncle Jomo Sono played at New York Cosmos with Pele in the 1970s and is among the finest footballers the country has produced.
The game is in his blood and many happy years spent as a child watching his family play shaped him.
Mokwena began a new chapter in North Africa, following in the footsteps of his mentor Pitso Mosimane, who left Sundowns for Egypt’s Al Ahly in 2020.
The Red Castle will be looking to improve on their recent disappointing performances and results when they face FUS Rabat on Sunday, November 3.