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SA is feeling coach Rulani Mokwena's pain

Sunday World

SW June 22 2025 edition

Twice denied a dream, we know you'll bounce back

- Kgomotso Mokoena

Watching Manchester City dismantling Wydad Athletico in the group stages of the Fifa Club World Cup midweek, one could not help but spare a thought for their former coach Rulani Mokwena.

Mokwena was a few games away from realising his dream of coaching at this prestigious tournament and at the age of 38, he was well on his way to become one of the youngest coaches to have ever coached at that level. But Wydad cruelly gave him the boot; a dream was deferred.

What gets my goat, and millions of other SA football lovers, is the manner in which the Moroccans ended his dream of playing against and meeting his role model, Manchester City coach Pep Guardiolla. Like Snoop Dogg and Dr Dre, it all went Up in Smoke, a mere six weeks before kick-off. That must have hurt.

This story is from the SW June 22 2025 edition edition of Sunday World.

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