Happy Birthday Rulani Mokwena – Still SO YOUNG

Former Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates and current Wydad Casablanca coach Rulani Mokwena is celebrating his birthday today.

GREAT HISTORY WITH MAMELODI SUNDOWNS

Mokwena, born on 9 January 1987, has turned 38 years old today. The Soweto-born tactician started coaching as a youth coach at Platinum Stars before becoming a first-team assistant coach at the same club. His next move was Sundowns, where he was an assistant to the great Pitso Mosimane, with whom he won four Premier Soccer League titles and the CAF Champions League.

Following Mosimane’s departure, Mokwena was appointed as a first-team coach behind the head coach, Manqoba Mngqithi, and they won another league title. Not long after that, Sundowns promoted Mokwena to head coach, while Mngqithi was dropped to the role of first-team coach. Mokwena led Sundowns to a further three league titles and the African Football League Championship.

Despite that success, with much drama, Sundowns decided to part ways with Mokwena after the club lost in the CAF Champions League semi-finals against Tunisia’s Esperance in May 2024. Reports also claimed that he was dismissed for forcefully signing Thembinkosi Lorch against the wishes of the club’s management. Mokwena moved to Moroccan giants Wydad Casablanca where his team is placed in sixth place with 27 points after 17 games, courtesy of seven wins, six draws and four defeats.

Mokwena left Sundowns as one of the club’s and the Premier Soccer League’s greatest coaches. His first match in charge was a 5-0 win over Maritzburg United, before he stormed into a 53-match unbeaten run in the league to mark a new South African record. Sundowns became just when he lost just one match on the final day of the season to Cape Town City.

WHAT IS YOUR BIRTHDAY MESSAGE TO RULANI MOKWENA?

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