Rulani Mokwena recruits second member of Wydad technical team

The former Mamelodi Sundowns mentor was briefly back in the country over the weekend and is returning to North Africa with veteran coach Allan Freese to become part of his backroom staff in the Botola Pro League. 

Mokwena and Freese have a close knit relationship dating back to their days at the now defunct Platinum Stars, where the former cut his teeth as he began to emerge as a future prospect after being given a chance in the club’s youth ranks. 

Freese becomes yet another South African set to assist the 37-year-old in his toughest coaching assignment to date, with Sinethemba Badela being appointed Mokwena’s assistant shortly after he too left Sundowns' reserve team.

Badela was head coach of the DStv Diski Challenge side at Chloorkop, but has followed Mokwena on his Moroccan adventure. 

The public broadcaster understands Freese did not hesitate when offered the opportunity to be part of Mokwena’s army of coaches and analysts at Wydad – a club still serving a FIFA transfer ban, but eager to resolve it before the season gets underway late next month to be able to rope in new players. 

Badela is also not the only ex-Sundowns employee that now forms part of Mokwena’s technical team in Morocco – fitness trainer Sibusiso Mahlangu and performance analysts Sibusiso Makitla are also expected to move to Casablanca. 

The duo have already parted ways with Downs.

READ: Romain Folz returns to join Mamelodi Sundowns