Wydad Athletic Club assistant coach Sinethemba Badela has explained that the players dedicated Sunday’s 5-1 win over Mohammedia to Rulani Mokwena, who was absent due to the burial of his grandmother.
Mokwena had confirmed the sad passing of his late grandmother via social media last week and was in South Africa this weekend to put her to rest.
In his absence, and with Badela on the sidelines, Wydad ran riot against Mohammedia, beating them 5-1 to win their fifth successive match.
“It was a very difficult game, the week was very difficult,” Badela said in his post-match press conference.
“It was a very emotional week without our head coach Rulani Mokwena. So, the boys they did it for the coach.
“When the game started, Mohammedia were very aggressive, they marked us men for men with a plus one at the back, only the striker marking the two centre-backs, so we struggled with that.
“So, what we needed to do, we needed to move the ball a bit quicker and then in the second half, the subs helped us a lot when we brought in Masa, when we brought in Saghi, also Obeng, they gave us a little quicker tempo of the game.
“Once we got to 3-1, 4-1, the game was basically over. But it was a very tough game. In Botola once the opposition scores, the game is tight, it’s very, very difficult.
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“Congratulations to the boys, they did it for coach Mokwena.”
Badela reiterated that it was a tough and emotional week, but the players wanted the win for Mokwena, as well as the club’s kit man.
“Coach Mokwena, he trusts his stuff. Of course, we have to follow the head coach, he’s our leader,” he added.
“Like I said earlier it was a very, very difficult week for us, emotionally, mentally, because when one of us is in pain, we are also in pain.
“We also had to do it for Simo, our kit manager, who also lost his father. So, it’s been a very, very emotional week for us.
“The players, from the first day in training, they didn’t show that the coach is not there. In fact, the players themselves said we have to do it for the coach this week.
“If you look at the data, they were running more than ever – they said they would do it for the coach.
“Also, to win five games in a row for the first time since 2019. Son congratulations to the club, congratulations to the stuff, congratulations to the players. Definitely we missed coach Mokwena today.”
