logo
Mokwena to reignite rivalry with Ramović after joining MC Alger

Mokwena to reignite rivalry with Ramović after joining MC Alger

TimesLIVE18 hours ago
The rivalry between two former Premier Soccer League coaches Rulani Mokwena and Sead Ramović is set to be reignited in Algeria in the 2025-26 season.
This is after Mokwena joined reigning Algerian Ligue 1 champions Mouludia Club Alger, or MC Alger, late on Sunday night.
Ramović is coach of CR Belouizdad, where former Cape Town City striker Khanyisa Mayo plies his trade. Mokwena and Ramović traded a series of verbal blows when they coached Mamelodi Sundowns and TS Galaxy respectively last year.
'Rulani Mokwena, new coach for the dean of Algerian clubs,' Alger's statement read, also posting on Facebook: 'Welcome to Mouloudia'.
In one press conferences last year, German-Bosnian coach Ramović mockingly called Mokwena 'Mr Sunshine'. The former Wyada Casablanca tactician fired back by saying Ramović was seeking attention.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Mokwena to coach Algerian champions Mouloudia
Mokwena to coach Algerian champions Mouloudia

eNCA

time8 hours ago

  • eNCA

Mokwena to coach Algerian champions Mouloudia

CAIRO - Rulani Mokwena was named coach of Algerian champions Mouloudia Alger on Monday, ending weeks of speculation as to where the 38-year-old would work in the 2025/26 season. His move to Algiers follows one season with Moroccan outfit Wydad Casablanca. He left after finishing third in the national league and failing to qualify for the CAF Champions League. Here, AFP Sport also reports on a setback for Sudanese giants Al Hilal as they chase a place in the forthcoming Champions League in the latest football news across Africa. Algeria Mokwena will come up against two other former South African Premier Soccer League coaches in the Algerian championship. German Josef Zinnbauer, the former Orlando Pirates tactician, guided JS Kabylie to second place behind Mouloudia last season and qualification for the Champions League. Another German, Sead Ramovic, led Chabab Belouizdad to third place and entry to the second-tier CAF Confederation Cup. His previous clubs include TS Galaxy in South Africa. South Africa Young Orlando Pirates forward Mohau Nkota is joining Saudi Pro League club Ettifaq, the Soweto club announced. Last season was his first with the Buccaneers' first team and he scored 12 goals in 39 appearances, including three in Champions League victories over Belouizdad and Mouloudia in Algeria. The 20-year-old will join fellow African Wissam Chaouali, a Tunisian defender, at a club that finished seventh in the Pro League last season, 33 points behind champions Al Ittihad. Sudan Al Hilal, who have featured in every Champions League since 2004, suffered a setback in their bid to qualify for the 2025/26 edition of the premier African club competition. The Sudan Elite League pacesetters lost 1-0 to Al Amal Atbara in the fourth round of a mini-league and remain top of the table only on goal difference from Al Zamaleh Umm Ruwaba. Only two points separate seven of the eight contenders and 16 matches have produced just 18 goals as clubs chase top-four finishes and places in the Champions League and Confederation Cup. Angola Angolan champions Petro Luanda have hired 48-year-old Spanish coach Franc Artiga as they prepare for their Champions League campaign. Former Angola forward Flavio Amado had been in charge of the record 19-time national champions, but lacks the necessary coaching qualifications for the Confederation of African Football competitions. Petro have twice reached the Champions League semi-finals, losing to Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa in 2001 and Wydad Casablanca three years ago. Namibia Namibia, one of many African countries lacking a FIFA-approved stadium, will play their remaining 2026 World Cup home qualifiers against Malawi and São Tomé and Príncipe in neighbouring Botswana. The matches in September are earmarked for Francistown, 440 kilometres (274 miles) northeast of the capital, Gaborone. They previously hosted qualifiers in Soweto near Johannesburg.

Rulani Mokwena joins former Orlando Pirates coach in Algeria
Rulani Mokwena joins former Orlando Pirates coach in Algeria

The South African

time8 hours ago

  • The South African

Rulani Mokwena joins former Orlando Pirates coach in Algeria

Rulani Mokwena was named coach of Algerian champions Mouloudia Alger on Monday, ending weeks of speculation as to where the 38-year-old would work in the 2025/26 season. His move to Algiers follows one season with Moroccan outfit Wydad Casablanca. He left after finishing third in the national league and failing to qualify for the CAF Champions League. Here, AFP Sport also reports on a setback for Sudanese giants Al Hilal as they chase a place in the forthcoming Champions League in the latest football news across Africa. Mokwena will come up against two other former South African Premiership coaches in the Algerian championship. German Josef Zinnbauer, the former Orlando Pirates tactician, guided JS Kabylie to second place behind Mouloudia last season and qualification for the CAF Champions League. Another German, Sead Ramovic, led Chabab Belouizdad to third place and entry to the second-tier CAF Confederation Cup. His previous clubs include TS Galaxy in South Africa. Meanwhile, young Orlando Pirates forward Mohau Nkota is joining Saudi Pro League club Ettifaq, the Soweto club announced. Last season was his first with the Buccaneers first team and he scored 12 goals in 39 appearances, including three in CAF Champions League victories over Belouizdad and Mouloudia in Algeria. The 20-year-old will join fellow African Wissam Chaouali, a Tunisian defender, at a club that finished seventh in the Pro League last season, 33 points behind champions Al Ittihad. In other news, Al Hilal, who have featured in every Champions League since 2004, suffered a setback in their bid to qualify for the 2025/26 edition of the premier African club competition. The Sudan Elite League pacesetters lost 1-0 to Al Amal Atbara in the fourth round of a mini-league and remain top of the table only on goal difference from Al Zamaleh Umm Ruwaba. Only two points separate seven of the eight contenders and 16 matches have produced just 18 goals as clubs chase top-four finishes and places in the Champions League and Confederation Cup. Angolan champions Petro Luanda have hired 48-year-old Spanish coach Franc Artiga as they prepare for their Champions League campaign. Former Angola forward Flavio Amado had been in charge of the record 19-time national champions, but lacks the necessary coaching qualifications for Confederation of African Football competitions. Petro have twice reached the Champions League semi-finals, losing to Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa in 2001 and Wydad Casablanca three years ago. Namibia, one of many African countries lacking a FIFA-approved stadium, will play their remaining 2026 World Cup home qualifiers against Malawi and Sao Tome e Principe in neighbouring Botswana. The matches in September are earmarked for Francistown, 440km northeast of the capital Gaborone. They previously hosted qualifiers in Soweto near Johannesburg. Namibia are unbeaten in Group H after three victories and three draws and lie second, four points behind six-time World Cup qualifiers Tunisia. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news. By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse

Rulani Mokwena set to keep alive his CAF Champions League ambitions with MC Alger
Rulani Mokwena set to keep alive his CAF Champions League ambitions with MC Alger

IOL News

time16 hours ago

  • IOL News

Rulani Mokwena set to keep alive his CAF Champions League ambitions with MC Alger

Rulani Mokwena has embarked on a new coaching journey with MC Alger, aiming to lead the club to CAF Champions League success. Photo: Phill Magakoe/AFP Image: AFP Rulani Mokwena's ambitions to continue coaching in Africa, particularly with a team participating in the CAF Champions League, have come to fruition. His new club, MC Alger, clinched their ninth league title last season, securing their spot as automatic qualifiers for Africa's prestigious club competition. The 38-year-old South African tactician has signed a two-year contract, marking a new chapter in his coaching career. MC Alger announced Mokwena's appointment on their official social media channels, stating: 'Rulani Mokwena is the new coach of the dean of the Algerian clubs. Rulani Mokwena! Welcome to Mouloudia.' His arrival in Algiers comes on the heels of the departure of Tunisian coach Khaled Ben Yahia, who had a short-term contract with the club that ended last season. Rhulani Mokwena named new MC Alger head coach. — African Soccer Updates (@Africansoccerup) July 13, 2025 Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Mokwena previously coached at Wydad AC in Morocco after a successful spell with South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns, where he established himself as an innovative coach. His tactical versatility, especially his preferred 3-4-3 formation, earned him a reputation for being a coach who promoted attacking play. While at Wydad, Mokwena completed 17 matches, achieving seven wins, six draws, and four losses. However, a lack of alignment on club objectives led to an amicable parting of ways in May 2025, leaving Mokwena in high demand across Africa. He attracted interest from several clubs, including Pyramids FC and Zamalek SC in Egypt, as well as teams from South Africa and the Gulf region. His consistent commitment to maintaining his link with CAF Champions League contenders ultimately led him to choose MC Alger over other offers. In its 103-year history, MC Alger has competed nine times in the Champions League and made history by winning the title in their 1976 debut. The club aims to build on their recent successes, having reached the quarter-finals of the last CAF Champions League edition before being narrowly defeated by Orlando Pirates, a match imbued with added significance for Mokwena, given his ties to the South African side. His coaching journey aligns perfectly with the club's ambitions, as they seek to dominate domestically and make an impact on the continental stage. MC Alger's decision reflects their commitment to not only reclaim domestic titles but also improve their standing in Africa while competing against formidable opponents. Mokwena now faces the challenge of eclipsing rivals like Sead Ramovic of CR Belouizdad and Josef Zinnbauer of JS Kabylie, making the upcoming season in Algeria particularly competitive. As Mokwena settles into his new role, he will focus on leveraging his tactical insight and experience to strengthen the squad for both national and international aspirations. His appointment will bolster MC Alger's profile while solidifying his status as one of African football's most promising coaching talents. He becomes the first South African to coach in the Algerian Premier League, and at the age of 38, Mokwena will be the youngest coach in the CAF Champions League next season.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store