Wydad Athletic Club head coach Rulani Mokwena has insisted he would walk away from the Moroccan giants if the club’s leadership believed he was holding the club back.
Mokwena’s side registered their fourth straight draw, playing to a 1-1 draw with Ittihad Tanger. Thembinkosi Lorch had opened the scoring in the 31st minute after being set up by Ghananian Samuel Obeng but Tanger equalised with 11 minutes remaining to make it 1-1.
The Red Castle dropped to fourth place with 43 points after 25 games – two points off a CAF Champions League spot, which is currently occupied by ASFAR.
With five games remaining, Mokwena’s side are under pressure to qualify for CAFCL after RS Berkane already secured the Botola Pro Inwi.
Speaking with the media after the match, Mokwena explained that his style of play mustn’t be questioned, as they have created opportunities but couldn’t convert chances. The South African mentor, though, made it clear that if the club feels like he is holding them back, he is giving them full responsibility to relieve him of his duties.
“When you bring me to Wydad, you bring me with a certain style of play, and I will never abandon my style of play,” Mokwena said to the media.
“I’m sorry I have worked very hard as a coach to build, to study and to research what works.
“It worked for me in the past and I am sure it will work here, it needs a little bit of time but I must tell you, I’m at the position where I love the club so much and I can tell you ‘guys, if I am the problem for Wydad believe me I will be the first one to ask for permission to go back to South Africa’.
“If I am the problem, I give the president and the board full responsibility to relieve me from duties, if I am the problem.
“I don’t want to hold Wydad back. If Wydad feels they can be better without me, then believe me, I love this club too much to be the problem. That is it.
“Let’s not question the style of play. I mean, you saw the chances we had, we should have scored, but that has nothing with style of play.”
