Rulani Mokwena Reveals His Regret Over Wydad AC Exit as He Begins New Chapter at Pyramids FC

Rulani Mokwena has admitted that he has one major regret from his coaching career, leaving Wydad AC before the end of the 2024/25 season. The South African coach made the revelation during his official unveiling as the new Pyramids FC head coach in Egypt. Mokwena has taken charge of Pyramids ahead of the 2026/27 Egyptian Premier League season after previously coaching Libyan side Al-Ittihad. His comments about Wydad provide insight into a difficult period in his career and the circumstances surrounding his departure from the Moroccan giants. At the same time, the 39-year-old is focused on making a strong start at Pyramids and building on the progress achieved by the club under his predecessor.

Mokwena’s time at Wydad remains an important part of his coaching career, particularly because of the expectations attached to leading one of Morocco’s biggest clubs. He left the Red Castle shortly before the conclusion of the 2024/25 campaign, meaning he was not on the touchline when the club competed at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. That tournament represented a major opportunity for Wydad to compete against some of the world’s strongest clubs on an international stage. Mokwena’s departure before the competition has therefore remained a notable point in discussions about his spell in Casablanca. During his Pyramids unveiling, the coach openly acknowledged that he wishes the circumstances had unfolded differently.

According to Shorouk News, Mokwena said he considers his decision to leave Wydad at the end of the season the one regret of his life. “I have one regret in my life, which is that I left Wydad Casablanca at the end of the season,” Mokwena stated. His admission reflects the significance he attaches to the club and the relationships he built during his time in Morocco. Despite the difficult ending, he also stressed that his relationship with the Moroccan players is now good and strong. That suggests Mokwena has moved beyond the disappointment surrounding his exit and remains appreciative of the connections he developed during his tenure.

The timing of Mokwena’s departure meant he missed the chance to lead Wydad at the FIFA Club World Cup, which was a significant moment for the club and its supporters. The competition offered Wydad the opportunity to test themselves against elite opposition while representing Moroccan and African football on a global stage. For a coach, participating in such a tournament can provide valuable exposure and an opportunity to strengthen his reputation internationally. Mokwena’s regret appears to be connected partly to missing that opportunity after working with the team during the preceding period. His comments suggest that he still looks back at his Wydad experience with a degree of personal attachment despite the way the relationship ended.

Mokwena has now shifted his attention towards a new challenge at Pyramids FC, where he will be expected to compete for major honours in Egyptian football. The coach officially took charge in July 2026 after leaving Al-Ittihad in Libya and has already begun familiarising himself with his new squad. He also oversaw Pyramids’ pre-season trip to Turkiye, giving him an early opportunity to assess the players and introduce aspects of his tactical approach. The pre-season period has allowed Mokwena to begin building relationships with his players before the competitive campaign gets underway. His immediate task will be to ensure that the squad understands his ideas while maintaining the standards that have helped Pyramids become a competitive force.

Mokwena has also shown respect for the work completed by former Pyramids coach Krunoslav Jurcic. The South African believes Jurcic played an important role in developing a winning mentality within the squad, something Mokwena sees as a strong foundation for his own tenure. Rather than attempting to completely rebuild the club, the new coach appears determined to build on what already exists while introducing his own tactical identity. “Krunoslav Jurcic succeeded in changing the mentality of Pyramids players, and now they have to adapt to our style and achieve what we want from them in the coming period,” Mokwena said. His comments indicate that he wants to preserve the positive culture at the club while demanding further improvement from the players.

The new Pyramids coach has also made his ambitions clear ahead of the 2026/27 Egyptian Premier League campaign. Mokwena wants the club to remain among the leading teams in Egypt and compete consistently for trophies. “My ambition is to continue Pyramids’ presence on the podium in the coming period, and it is a great challenge, but we are ready for it,” he said. His target reflects the growing expectations surrounding Pyramids, a club that has established itself as a serious competitor in Egyptian football. Mokwena will therefore enter the new season under pressure to deliver results while also developing a team capable of competing at the highest level.

Preparation has been another important part of Mokwena’s approach since his appointment. The coach revealed that he watched all of Pyramids’ matches from the previous season to gain a detailed understanding of the team and its players. That level of preparation should help him identify the squad’s strengths, weaknesses and areas where tactical adjustments may be required. It also demonstrates his intention to begin the job with a clear understanding of the environment rather than relying solely on pre-season training sessions to assess the team. Mokwena described Pyramids as a professional club and said he was excited about the opportunity while feeling fully prepared for the challenge.

Mokwena’s arrival at Pyramids also represents another important stage in his career as he continues to build experience across different football environments. His previous work in South Africa, Morocco and Libya has exposed him to different playing styles, club structures and expectations. The move to Egypt now gives him an opportunity to test his coaching philosophy in one of Africa’s most competitive football leagues. His experience at Wydad, including the regret he expressed over his departure, could provide valuable lessons as he begins his new role. Managing those lessons effectively will be important as he attempts to establish stability and success at Pyramids.

The South African’s admission about Wydad shows that even experienced coaches can look back on major career decisions with regret. However, his comments also demonstrate that he has retained positive relationships with the players from his time in Morocco and is ready to focus on the future. At Pyramids, Mokwena has inherited a club with ambitions of competing for trophies and a squad that already possesses a strong winning mentality. His challenge will be to combine that foundation with his own tactical methods while maintaining consistency throughout a demanding season. If he can achieve those objectives, his Pyramids tenure could become an important new chapter in his coaching career and provide an opportunity to turn past disappointment into future success.