'Rulani was not fired, but...'
by KO Journalist · KickOffAlgerian journalist Nazim Bessol has revealed what may have led to South African coach Rulani Mokwena's departure from MC Alger.
Mokwena left the Algerian giants for Libyan ambitious outfit Al Ittihad, where he has already been announced as head coach.
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The 39-year-old tactician exited Alger despite sitting at the top of the league table and having won the Algerian Cup in just eight months.
According to Bessol, although the club's management wanted him to stay, Mokwena was under pressure, particularly after losing a cup match to CR Belouizdad and being knocked out of the CAF Champions League.
"This is maybe something that people were prepared for or waiting for because even if MC Alger is leading the league, there's a lot of problems around the team and with Mokwena himself," Bassol said on Radio 2000's Game On.
"Some fans, when he arrived, the target was like to go to the semi-final of the Champions League and after the team was knocked out in the group stages, it created some negative atmosphere and a lot of critics against him.
According to Bassol, the nail in the coffin was the loss to MC Alger's historic rivals, CR Belouizdad, in a cup game.
"It's a big derby in Algeria and I think this defeat wasn't accepted by the management and the fans of the team," shared the journalist.
"After losing that game, especially because it was against Belouizdad, there was a lot of pressure."
Moreso, the journalist added that Alger's management had urged Mokwena to stay until the end of the season before making a move to Al Ittihad.
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"I know that there was a meeting after the last two league games and the management asked him to stay until the end of the season and he was okay with this, but he chose not to continue," he added.
"The coach did not get fired, he resigned. He was the one who chose to leave. We are talking about a big offer from Libya, probably double the amount he was getting at Alger."