Former Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena has left MC Alger to take on a new challenge at Al-Ittihad SC.
Image: BACKPAGEPIX
New Al-Ittihad SC head coach Rulani Mokwena has shed light on his sudden departure from MC Alger, describing the decision as one of the most difficult of his coaching career.
Mokwena parted ways with the Algerian giants last week after just eight months in charge, leaving the club in a commanding position at the top of the Algerian Ligue 1 standings.
At the time of his exit, MC Alger sat on 46 points from 20 matches, holding a six-point lead over nearest challengers JS Saoura, who had played three more games.
It was a position that made his departure all the more surprising. But for Mokwena, timing and long-term vision played a decisive role.
“It’s quite complicated and to answer it in a few words it was a difficult decision. It was very, very difficult. But we felt it was the right decision,” Mokwena said.
The former Mamelodi Sundowns and Wydad AC mentor explained that leaving MC Alger while the team was in a strong position was part of a deliberate plan.
“It was motivated by a couple of things, the one was the team was in a very good position, it’s in a strong position to continue to win the league,” he said.
“To win its third league title in a row, a very historic title for the club. The president and the players are strong enough to be able to see it through.”
While the timing may have raised eyebrows, Mokwena believes the opportunity that awaited him was too significant to ignore.
“A lot of people can question the timing but we felt it was the right time, especially also because there was a better opportunity to drive a bigger sporting project.”
That project now takes shape in Libya, where Mokwena has arrived at Al-Ittihad with a clear vision that extends beyond results on the pitch.
The 39-year-old has assembled a strong technical team, including Sinethemba Badela, Wendell Robinson, Sbu Makitla, Said El Nahhas and Thabiso ‘Thaso’ Moshane, as part of his new journey.
For Mokwena, the move is not only about club success but also about creating pathways for South African coaches abroad.
“An opportunity to help quite a few of our South African people to again explore like we did with coach Allan [Freese] earlier in Wydad,” he explained.
“We felt we were presented with an opportunity to give many South African coaches possible opportunities to work outside the country.”
He added that the vision extends across multiple levels of the game.
“Whether that is through the first team, youth football or even women’s football, those are the departments we will be heading.”
Mokwena stressed that appointments will be based on merit rather than nationality alone.
“We will be looking to empower as many as possible from South Africa, but not only because they are South African but because they have the necessary pedigree, expertise and qualities.”
In the end, his departure from MC Alger may have come as a surprise, but for Mokwena, it was a calculated step toward a broader ambition.