Wydad Athletic Club head coach Rulani Mokwena has delivered a lengthy message to the club’s fans in what he described as lack of support following their 2-2 draw against FUS Rabat.
Wydad and FUS went into the clash fighting for second place and when The Red Castle thought they had all the three points, 20-year-old Soufiane Tazi scored the late equalizer in the 90th minute for a third successive draw for Wydad, though they are level on points with second-placed ASFAR.
Mokwena delivered a detailed message in the presser citing that lack of support and more negativity is affecting the players and their performance. The South African mentor went as far as talking about the passing of his grandmother in the last few weeks.
“You can’t win every game, so I can’t sit here, every time we don’t win, I have to explain that football is win, lose, or draw; even Wydad cannot win every game,” Mokwena told the media.
“I’ve grown up with football ever since I was a kid, and I have an understanding that in football, it’s about effort, commitment, and giving everything that you can if you want to win excellently.
“If you lose because the opponent is better, you shake hands sportsman like, try to improve and get better, and if you draw, you look at the positives, also you fix the negatives – we are a new team, everyone doesn’t want me to say this but we are a new team, it’s 26 new players, we’re fighting for the Champions League spot.
“We have started from disadvantage from ASFAR, Zemamra – you know 10 match days ago how many gap of points we had to close, and we’ve done that.
“Why can’t these players get more support, Berah is coming at half-time, and he is distraught and me as a coach I look at my players and I say, ‘why can’t they get more support’.
“I understand we haven’t won anything in two years. I understand there’s hunger for Champions League, and believe me, there’s no one more hungry than me to play Champions League.
“I was in the semi-final of the Champions League two years in a row. I had the option to join clubs that are in the Champions League. I came to join Wydad because when Sundowns played against Wydad, I saw how much they love their club. I saw how much they showed their love to me.
“This is why I didn’t go to ASFAR, and this is why I didn’t go to Raja and chose Wydad. But what I see now is a lack of support and the lack of patience. It’s not easy, guys.”
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“Let me tell you, this is my first Ramadan as a coach, and it’s difficult. Can I tell you something that people don’t know? I’m fasting with the players so I can feel what they are going through, and I know how difficult it is for me,” he added.
“So, if it’s difficult for me, how difficult must it be for these guys who have to run for 90 minutes, who have to train every day, just show a little bit of compassion guys what I see every week, throwing bottles I don’t like it.
“I’m not involved in football because of this. We have a goal; just remember the goal is the dream, and dreams are pure; they come from a place that comes with motivation; they come with pride for achieving them.
“The dream is to win Botola or win the CAF Champions spot. That’s what this club deserves, and while I’m still here, maybe some people don’t want me here, and that’s okay, but while I am here, Wydad will fight until death for that spot.
“I am going a little bit emotional, I lost my grandmother two weeks ago, and maybe this shouldn’t be in the public but she got sick the day picture went viral in South Africa for me being thrown bottles at 86 and we think that’s okay to throw these players with bottles to boo them at half-time why we don’t encourage them they doing their best, guys?
“The team is third. The team is fighting. What else do we want from these players, guys? Support them so they do their best.
“Believe me, guys, I see it in their eyes. That’s why they responded in the second half because they are trying, they are doing their best. All I am asking for the next six games is just to push your team over the line, Wydad.
“We have the best support in Botola. When Wydad won Champions League I watched the game the final against Al Ahly, at any other Stadium Al Ahly wins that final but not against the Wydad fans.
“And that’s what I expect as the coach more support, more positivity and dream don’t be obsessed, obsession is not good, obsession comes from a darker place it’s evil but dreams are pure, they give motivation, you fall you wake up because you wanna dream, you wanna leave this thing that’s all I am asking. I’m sorry, I have to leave.”
