Rulani Mokwena says he embraces the pressure that comes from working for one of the continent's biggest teams in Wydad Athletic club.
In a recent interview with CAF TV, Mokwena opened up about the pressure that comes with managing such a prestigious club and how much he enjoys that responsibility.
Having previously worked with two other giant clubs, Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns, Mokwena is no stranger to the high expectations that come with managing a team of such stature. However, he expressed how working for a club like Wydad Athletic Club is particularly special to him.
"Big clubs are called winners for a reason. They want to win everything. They want to win every match. They want to succeed at everything they do, and this is the mentality of big clubs like Real Madrid, Manchester United, Manchester City," Mokwena said.
"The fans put pressure on the players, the coaches to win every single day. So, the expectations I think are normal and I love this. I love working under pressure. I love working in big clubs because this is what fuels me."
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The 37-year-old coach highlighted the crucial role that fans play in driving the success of big clubs, especially those like Wydad, which has a massive following.
"There's 5 million supporters for this incredible club. That means there are 5 million families, and you know how big the Moroccan families are," Mokwena continued.
"So you've got people who love this club and who are affected by the results of this club every single day. And therefore, it's your responsibility to try to make these people happy."
The weight of the responsibility is not lost on Mokwena, but he views it as a driving force in his coaching philosophy.
"There's nothing that gives me greater pleasure than to see people being happy because of our sacrifices, because of our investment, because of our work, and it's a great privilege, an incredible privilege."
Mokwena also touched on the atmosphere in Moroccan football, expressing a desire to see even more passionate support for the game.
"I really would love to see, and it would be amazing for me to see, because it's like in Turkey, it's like in England, it's like in Germany, this culture of supporting your club and playing every single match in a full-capacity stadium.
"I think it would raise the level of the Botola even higher if all the games were played with the supporters, but I understand why."
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