South Africans Abroad: Rulani arrives in Tripoli for Al-Ittihad job
Rulani Mokwena has signed a two-and-half year deal with Al-Ittihad Tripoli, and he’s already in Libya with his backroom staff.
South African mentor Rulani Mokwena has arrived in Tripoli, Libya to take over as head coach of Al-Ittihad.
Mokwena has signed a two-year deal with Al-Ittihad following his departure from Algerian giants MC Alger.
The move comes just hours after he was found guilty and handed a suspended two-month imprisonment.
That was after Mokwena’s brief arrest for violating strict currency regulations in Algeria.
Mokwena is now a free man, and he will now have all the time to focus on his Al-Ittihad project.
SOUTH AFRICANS ABROAD: RULANI OFFICIALLY JOINS AL-ITTIHAD
With the deal now sealed, Mokwena has also assembled his backroom staff, and his trusted men are also in Libya.
Sinethemba Badela will serve as Mokwena’s assistant alongside Wendell Robinson who’s the goalkeeper coach.
Performance analyst Sbu Makitla and masseur Thabiso Moshane are also in Tripoli with the rest of the new technical team.
Mokwena worked with the quartet both at Mamelodi Sundowns and Wydad Athletic Club before moving to MC Alger.
WHEN IS MOKWENA’S FIRST MATCH?
Mokwena’s first league game with Al-Ittihad is scheduled for Wednesday, 8 April against Shabab Al-Ghar.
The 39-year-old tactician will be expected to continue with the club’s current form as they sit atop the Libyan Premier League Group 2 log.
Al-Ittihad are unbeaten in the league this season having recorded 10 wins and two draws in their opening 12 games of the season.