MOKWENA APPOINTED AS NEW MC ALGER HEAD COACH

Written by: Kamogelo Mogale

Rhulani Mokwena’s dream of taking a sabbatical from coaching won’t be a reality for him as he has been appointed at the new head coach of Algerian premier league side MC Alger. The 38-year-old coach has been unattached after mutually agreeing to terminate his contract with Morocco’s Wydad Athletic Club.

The nine-time Algerian champions, Mouloudia Club d’Alger, have been actively seeking a new coach to replace Tunisian coach, Khaled Ben Yahia, who has since left the club. Ben Yahia was in charge of 28 matches during his tenure, ending the club’s ten-year league drought by securing both the league title and the Super Cup.

While reigning African champions Pyramids FC of Egypt showed interest, talks stalled due to their existing contract with Krunoslav Jurcic. Zamalek also approached Mokwena, but he says he withdrew from negotiations upon discovering his mentor, Pitso Mosimane, was also a candidate for the position.

Mokwena is set to join familiar faces, former Premier Soccer League coaches Josef Zinnbauer (JS Kabyile) and Sead Ramovic (CR Belouizdad) who finished second and third respectively in the 2024/25 campaign. Mokwena notably won three league titles, the inaugural African Football League, and the Nedbank Cup. He was also a key part of Pitso Mosimane’s technical team when the Brazilians lifted the CAF Champions League title in 2016.

A move to MCA has presented the talented coach with an opportunity to return to Africa’s premier club competition, the Champions League, a stage he is familiar with from his numerous appearances with Sundowns.