Rhulani Mokwena
 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Rhulani Mlungisi Mokwena[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 9 January 1987 | ||
| Place of birth | Johannesburg,South Africa[2] | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Wydad AC(coach) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Years | Team | ||
| Silver Stars | |||
| Managerial career | |||
| 2014–2017 | Mamelodi Sundowns(assistant) | ||
| 2017–2020 | Orlando Pirates(assistant) | ||
| 2019 | Orlando Pirates(interim) | ||
| 2020 | Chippa United(interim) | ||
| 2020–2022 | Mamelodi Sundowns(co-coach) | ||
| 2022–2024 | Mamelodi Sundowns | ||
| 2024– | Wydad AC | ||
Rhulani Mlungisi Mokwena(born 9 January 1987) is a South Africanfootball managerwho is the manager ofWydad AC.
The son of formerOrlando Piratesplayer Julias Sono Hloae , and nephew toJomo Sono,Mokwena hails from a footballing family and started his professional coaching career in the youth systems atSilver Stars,before serving as an assistant manager atMamelodi Sundownsand Pirates. In 2019, he became interim manager of the latter club, holding the position for five months, before being appointed as the head coach at Chippa United the following year.
Early career
[edit]Mokwena's first notable foray into football came atSilver Stars,later known as Platinum Stars, where he honed his skills under coaches such asSteve Komphela,Cavin JohnsonandAllan Freese.[3]In 2014, he joinedMamelodi Sundownswhere, after excelling with the club's development team, he was promoted to be one of managerPitso Mosimane's assistant managers, alongsideManqoba MngqithiandAlex Bapela.[4]Mokwena stayed with Masandawana until 2017, helping the club win the2016 CAF Champions Leaguetitle, before taking up a role as the assistant manager toMilutin SredojevićatOrlando Pirates.[5]
Managerial career
[edit]Orlando Pirates
[edit]In August 2019, after Sredojević unexpectedly resigned at Pirates, Mokwena was named as the new interim-manager of the club and he marked his managerial debut with a 1-0MTN 8defeat toHighlands Park.[6]Over the next five months, he took charge of 14 matches, winning four, drawing five and losing five, before returning to the assistant manager's role following the appointment ofJosef Zinnbauerin December.[7]
Chippa United
[edit]On 4 March 2020, Mokwena left Zinnbauer's side after being appointed as the head coach of fellow Premier Division sideChippa Unitedon a short-term deal.[8]However, his time with the club was disrupted by theCOVID-19 outbreak,which saw the league suspended later that month, and by the end of his contract in June he had overseen just one match in charge for the season.[9]
Mamelodi Sundowns
[edit]In 2020 Mokwena became co-coach ofMamelodi SundownsalongsideManqoba Mngqithi.In October 2022, "Mngqithi was assigned to a new role as Sundowns' senior coach in what is a demotion from the position of co-coach. He will now be working under new head coach Rhulani Mokwena",Goal.comreported.[10]On the 3rd of July 2024 it was confirmed that he and Mamelodi Sundowns have parted ways, citing taking into account the objectives and expectations of the board[11]
Wydad AC
[edit]In July 2024 he joinedBotolasideWydad ACas head coach.[12]
Career statistics
[edit]Manager
[edit]- As of match played 10 April 2024
| Team | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | Win % | |||
| Orlando Pirates(interim) | 17 August 2019 | 10 December 2019[7] | 14 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 28.6 |
| Chippa United(interim) | 4 March 2020 | 30 June 2020[9] | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.0 |
| Mamelodi Sundowns | 4 October 2020 | 4 July 2024[13] | 139 | 88 | 40 | 11 | 63.3 |
| Wydad AC | 10 July 2024 | present | 12 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 41.7 |
| Total | 166 | 97 | 49 | 20 | 58.4 | ||
Honours
[edit]Manager
[edit]Mamelodi Sundowns
- South African Premier Division:2021–22,2022-23,2023-24
- African Football League:2023
References
[edit]- ^Rhulani Mokwenaat Soccerway. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
- ^"Who is Rhulani Mokwena, Mamelodi Sundowns' new head coach?".Sportsbrief.Retrieved24 November2022.
- ^"Rhulani reflects on past under Komphela".Kick Off. 15 June 2020.Retrieved26 June2020.
- ^Fakude, Ernest (6 October 2014)."Pitso confirms Mokwena appointment".Kick Off.Retrieved26 June2020.
- ^Lihaiwa, Rofhiwa (31 December 2017)."Sono: Mokwena decided on his own".Kick Off.Retrieved26 June2020.
- ^"Rollercoaster As Mokwena Steps Into Pirates Hot Seat".Soccer Laduma. 19 August 2019.Retrieved26 June2020.
- ^abKohler, Lorenz (10 December 2019)."What to expect from new Pirates coach".Kick Off.Retrieved26 June2020.
- ^"Chippa Officially Announce New Coach!".Soccer Laduma. 4 March 2020.Retrieved26 June2020.
- ^abDladla, Nkululeko (24 June 2020)."Rhulani leaving Chippa - confirmed".Kick Off.Retrieved26 June2020.
- ^Madyira, Michael (25 October 2022)."Mngqithi: Agent of Mamelodi Sundowns senior coach was unaware of changes with Mokwena".Goal.com.Retrieved24 November2022.
- ^"Mamelodi Sundowns and Rhulani Mokwena Agree to Part Ways – Mamelodi Sundowns | Official Website".3 July 2024.Retrieved3 July2024.
- ^Bosoga, Thato."Rulani goes back to his roots to cope with Wydad's FIFA ban".Kickoff.Retrieved19 July2024.
- ^"Rhulani Mokwena".Playmakerstats.Retrieved5 January2024.
- 1987 births
- Living people
- South African soccer managers
- Premier Soccer League managers
- Orlando Pirates F.C. managers
- Chippa United F.C. managers
- Mamelodi Sundowns F.C. managers
- Wydad AC managers
- Botola managers
- South African expatriate soccer managers
- South African expatriate sportspeople in Morocco
- Expatriate football managers in Morocco