In the past off-season, when Mokwena left Masandawana for the Red Castle, he was eventually followed by two of his former players from the South African champions.
They were Cassius Mailula, who is at the record Moroccan champions on loan from Toronto FC, and Abdelmounaim Boutouil, who joined Wydad as a free agent.
While Mailula has taken to the pitch for the north African giants already, having featured in three league matches so far, Boutouil is yet to make an appearance for his new side as he is still sidelined with an injury.
Being injured has seemingly not stopped him from making waves within the Wydad dressing room, however, and not in a good way.
According to Le Site Info Sport, the central defender posted on his Instagram Story how Mokwena plans to strengthen his defensive line-up by making alterations.
Furthermore, the 26-year-old reportedly revealed the South African tactician’s plan to further accelerate his recovery, along with a picture of himself and the ex-Orlando Pirates manager.
The same report claims that this did not go down well with Mokwena and the rest of the dressing room, and that Boutouil removed the post shortly afterwards.
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While Boutouil continues to return to full fitness, he will be hoping his teammates continue their good run of form. Wydad are undefeated in the league and the Excellence Cup since their opening matchday defeat to MAS Fes. They now currently occupy the third position in the league and are top of their cup group.
On September 22nd, during the World Winner Beach Soccer Cup in Alghero, an exciting inclusion clinic took place, bringing together volunteer associations working with people with disabilities from the region. The event, supported by UNAOC (United Nations Alliance of Civilizations) and its Sport for One Humanity initiative, created a space where sports and inclusion came together to foster unforgettable moments.
World Winners Cup Alghero 2024 on September 22, 2024 in Alghero, Italia. (Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez/BSWW)
The clinic featured the participation of referees, players, and staff from the tournament, all committed to bringing beach soccer closer to the local community. Children, families, and athletes shared a day full of activities, learning from one another and demonstrating that sport is a powerful tool for integration and understanding.
World Winners Cup Alghero 2024 on September 22, 2024 in Alghero, Italia. (Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez/BSWW)
Among the clinic’s attendees were members of the Japanese team BS Nadeshiko, Real Münster from Germany, as well as participants from TMS FC of China, lead by coach Marcelo Mendes. The clinic also featured prominent players such as Mateusinho from Pafos, further enhancing the event’s importance and reach. Additionally, the event was honored by the presence of Raimondo Cacciotto, the Mayor of Alghero, further highlighting the local community’s support for the initiative.
World Winners Cup Alghero 2024 on September 22, 2024 in Alghero, Italia. (Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez/BSWW)
In the spirit of inclusion and diversity, this event allowed participants to enjoy the beauty of beach soccer, promoting values such as cooperation, respect, and equality. It was also a unique opportunity to showcase how sport can be a vehicle for social change, breaking down barriers and facilitating interaction between people of different abilities.
World Winners Cup Alghero 2024 on September 22, 2024 in Alghero, Italia. (Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez/BSWW)
The clinic was a celebration of community, where both professional players and amateurs found common ground through sport, reaffirming the Beach Soccer Foundation’s commitment to inclusion and accessibility in sports.
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – APRIL 15: Teboho Mokoena of Mamelodi Sundowns during the DStv Premiership match between Moroka Swallows and Mamelodi Sundowns at Dobsonville Stadium on April 2024 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images)
Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Manqoba Mngqithi has opened up the door for Teboho Mokoena’s return to the club’s matchday squad in future; however, he has hinted at a possible positional switch for the influential midfielder.
Since taking over the reins at the Brazilians, Mngqithi has stressed the importance of Mokoena – who recently signed a new contract – to the club’s cause.
However, the coach has made it clear that Mokoena, like all other players, would have to fight for their place in the team, which has seen the midfielder left on the sidelines for Sundowns’ recent matches, including their 2-1 win over Kaizer Chiefs last weekend.
The emergence of Rivaldo Coetzee has also contributed to Mokoena’s absence from the Downs’ starting XI, with Mngqithi preferring ‘Riva’ over ‘Tebza’ as the club’s holding midfielder for the time being.
It is for this reason that the coach has hinted at a possible adjustment in position for Mokoena, with a more offensive role in mind.
“I wouldn’t really want to say anything negative about ‘Riva’. Ever since he has played as a six – and he has played as a six for us in the past. He is a very, very good player technically and can use both left and right comfortably. He reads the game very well. He is one of the best leaders we have in the team. He is not often quite unaware of what is happening around him because he scans a lot. I rate him very highly as a six and as a six I also don’t want someone who moves a lot and open that hole. I want somebody that is a little bit stable. That’s why I prefer to play with three central midfielders so that the eights can confront whatever situation, but the six is always a pivot in front of the last line,” he told journalists after the Chiefs win.
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“Tebza is a very good player, but he might also even help us as an eight. Because of his dynamism, his ability to score, his aggression might be even more important for us going forward, but he is also a very good six for us.
“But make no mistake, Rivaldo, technically is one of the best players I’ve ever worked with, so I will always have him in my thoughts because I believe he is. He’s very good in his space, but you cannot even compare the two players because also their profiles are very different,” he said.
Former Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns attacker Lebohang Mokoena has revealed the one big regret he has from his playing career following his official retirement from the game.
Before announcing his retirement this week, Mokoena had gone over a year without a club and has now made it official by confirming that he has hung up his boots. He had a great career in the PSL, playing for Orlando Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns, Ajax Cape Town, Maccabi and Moroka Swallows, but he still can’t get over the fact that he missed out on more than one opportunity to play abroad.
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“The only thing was for me to leave the country and go play overseas. I was just hard done by and I guess that’s something I will have to live with. When the opportunities were there, I was not given the platform to go and play abroad. That was one of my wishes growing up as a youngster. The opportunities did come, but it was not in my hands. That’s something that could have happened, but I did not have the power to make it happen,” Mokoena said to the Siya crew.
“The first was Al Ahly. I understood that one because I was only 15 at the time and my mom did not want me to leave as early as that. I had to finish school first. I had the opportunity to join Benfica and that did not materialise without me not knowing what happened. There was also Deportivo, Auxerre and Strasbourg. Strasbourg ended up signing Katlego Mphela. They wanted to sign me and Katlego at that time. My club failed me at that time. When I look back, the Spanish league is where I wanted to play and I feel like I would have also fitted in the French league. That was my ambition.”
The 38-year-old Mokoena, who won the Premiership title with Sundowns under Pitso Mosimane, already has plans for life after football, so there is little chance he will be idling.
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“Now, life continues. I am rewiring back into the space of football. There is a lot that can be done in this game. Obviously, it’s about giving back. I am coaching the under-12s at Eastleigh Primary. I work with the Zodwa Khoza Foundation just to try to give back for what she did for me when I was a youngster at Pirates. She was a mom to me and we are just trying to keep her legacy going. We do talks and go to rehabilitation centres.
“Also, we are busy trying to get the Lebohang Mokoena Foundation up and running as well. There is my brand, C23. I have had that since 2007, but due to my playing days, I did not have enough time to work on the brand and it’s doing pretty well. I am also part of the ambassadors for Betway and I am doing Soccerbeat where we discuss football matters.”
He explained why he decided to bring an end to his career, taking over a year to officially announce it.
“It’s been a long time in the back of my head, but I was waiting to see if there was anyone who wanted my help. Once that died down a bit, I decided it’s time. But after the passing of my wife (last year), I had actually decided there is no going back because I have the kids and they are very young and with football you travel a lot.”
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – SEPTEMBER 28: Nasreddine Nabi, head coach of Kaizer Chiefs during the Betway Premiership match between Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns at FNB Stadium on September 28, 2024 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Alche Greeff/Gallo Images)
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Benni McCarthy’s chances of sealing a reunion with AmaZulu are slim according to his long-term agent Rob Moore; however, former Bafana Bafana star, candidate Steven Pienaar has been suggested instead.
The Siya crew reported that McCarthy had returned to the country this week.
However, it was not to secure a move, but rather to provide punditry for pay-channel SuperSport on the UEFA Champions League coverage.
Reports in local media suggested that Benni has emerged as a frontrunner for the vacant AmaZulu job, with the club having announced the departure of Pablo Franco Martin on Monday.
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But McCarthy’s representative Rob Moore has played down any possibility of a reunion at Usuthu – the agent laid down the marker for what the former Manchester United coach is looking for in a team, with AmaZulu not quite fitting that billing; however, he has punted UEFA Pro license holder Steven Pienaar for the job.
“[There is] absolutely no possibility of Benni returning. They have my recommendation as to who they should pursue,” Moore told the Siya crew.
“I’ve recommended that they try secure Steven Pienaar, he’d do a great job for them,” he added.
Like Benni, Pienaar has been a part of Moore’s stable for his entire career and has been cutting his teeth in coaching since hanging up his boots in 2018.
Pienaar’s latest coaching venture has been in the UAE, where he has been overseeing Sharjah FC’s u15 side. He has had stints at his former club Ajax Amsterdam where he was the assistant coach of the u18s.
The 41-year-old has been vocal about his desire to step up into senior football, though it remains to be seen if AmaZulu will act on Moore’s recommendation.
