Rulani Mokwena Highlights Fan Support as Key Factor in El Mouloudia Success
Rulani Mokwena has guided El Mouloudia d’Alger to three straight wins in the Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1, underlining the importance of fan support when managing a major club.
After starting the season with a draw against bitter rivals MC Algiers, the South African coach has led his side to four victories in five matches across all competitions. Three of those wins came in the league, where El Mouloudia have collected 10 points, just four behind the top despite having played three fewer games than their rivals.
The latest triumph came over the weekend with a 1-0 victory against ES Mostaganem. Mokwena, who previously experienced a turbulent spell at Wydad Athletic Club in Morocco, appears to have found stability and form in the Algerian capital with MCA.
Following the match, Mokwena expressed his appreciation for the club and supporters, emphasizing the crucial role fans play in motivating players.
“Before I start, I would like to congratulate everyone at the club, because I think the level of play has clearly improved,” Mokwena said. “We still have many areas to improve. We’ve only been working together for two and a half months, but I already feel very clear about what we want to achieve.”
He credited the work of previous coaches Patrice Beaumelle and Khaled Ben Yahia for building a solid foundation.
“When you manage a big club, you have to understand the importance of the twelfth man. I salute our fans for the attitude they showed and ask them to be patient with the players,” he added.
Mokwena stressed the need for humility and letting results speak for themselves. “It’s important that we achieve victories to motivate the players. This group works very hard, and we must remain personally humble. I prefer to stay away from the media and let our performance speak for us.”
El Mouloudia now sit within striking distance of the top of the table, with Mokwena focusing on consolidating results while maintaining a strong connection with the supporters who have embraced his leadership.
