He's been at the forefront of some of South Africa's best soccer teams. Mention the name Rulani Mokwena and there will be flashbacks and stories of his time at Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates and Chippa United.
It can be both a gift and a curse to be talked about so frequently. Especially when the talk is unconstructive criticism, lies, negativity and trolling.
If Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena had a choice, he would definitely skip the fame and attention that comes with his job.
"If I could choose to still stay a coach and forfeit the fame, I would do that," Rulani tells us. Particularly as some of the things that have been said about him have hurt his loved ones more than they have hurt him. Unfortunately, it all comes with the job.
“People love their teams so much they have the right to criticise those who are in charge of leading their teams. That is one of things you have to make peace with as a coach. You need people who don’t believe in you to stimulate you and give you discomfort so you continue to grow as a human being. My time at Orlando Pirates was possibly the most important time, as short-lived as it was.
“You have to accept that to whom much is given, much is expected, and these are things we have to go through,” Rulani adds.
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His coaching career hasn't been all celebrations and wins. Apart from the criticism from soccer experts and fans over the years, there are other hurdles he has had to overcome.
"Society frowns on supporting young black leaders. When you start the race, you come in already a paraplegic with the disadvantage of being young, not having played professional football, and being black. Those are difficult obstacles that place stigmas and put you at a deficit.”
But he is stronger and more ambitious because of it all, Rulani says.
One of his career hightlights so far was being given the opportunity to be a head coach at Orlando Pirates after years of being an assistant coach to Pitso Mosimane at Sundowns.
It was a historical moment for him and his family, as his grandfather (Eric Bhamuza Sono), father (Julius Sono) and uncle (Jomo Sono) once played for the team.
"Football is a calling. I think coaching is a calling. I just responded," he says.
Let's see how the new direction fold in today's match. Phakama Rhulani pic.twitter.com/wyHkyYyZ1I
— ®? (@ARG_Mara) October 25, 2022
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He can trace back his love for coaching to when he was 14. It was predetermined destiny that got him to where he is today, he says.
“I was the captain of the under-15 team of a local football club. One day, the under-12 team did not have a coach. I remember picking up cones and the balls, I spontaneously started training the 10 and 11 year olds. It started being something I looked forward to after school. All I wanted to do was to get home and go to the pitch to train and coach. I became so passionate about coaching others that it took over my life,” he says.
It has been over 15 years since that defining moment and he admits football is all he knows. “My life is football,” he says.
Even his downtime is consumed by it. His current read is former Arsenal coach Arsène Wenger's book, My Life in Red and White.
“He mentions how much he has given to football. My biggest fear is that when I stop coaching, I am probably not going to know what to do for the day because I am working on coaching 24/7,” he adds.
It is such a part of him that at 3am or 4am, Rulani is likely to be up analysing a game.
With less games Morena has twice the assists Zwane has. Rulani Mokwena is such an intelligent man.
— #Rona 5tens x Touchline Out Now!!! (@StrAightMARVIN) October 27, 2022
“I consider myself to be extremely abstract. It is seldom, in fact unheard of, to have professional football coaches who never played football, who happen to be black and going on to make a career for themselves, particularly at my age. A lot of people are amazed as to how and why,” Rulani says.
"A lot of what I have achieved is through the grace of God and the talent he has given me. I am grateful to be part of an opportunity to create history, winning champions league titles at Sundowns. Being the first black South African coach at Orlando Pirates. For me, these are things that raise a bit of interest in people," he adds.
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Rulani says he's often inundated by people asking him how to become a success and he never really knows how to answer that question.
"Everyone is aligned to their own path. Everyone’s journey is different. But I often say, never stop working hard because that is the language the universe understands. I struggle to understand when people lack work ethic. It is one of the things I don’t compromise on and I don’t seem to get along well with lazy people who can't put in the hours. It is all about sacrifice and hard work."
He's also set up the Rulani Mokwena Foundation, which started in 2018. Through it, he hopes to build not only soccer players but better human beings in society. This is his way of giving back.
"I wanted to do more. I could see it just wasn't enough to be a talented footballer if you wanted to make it out of the township. Our goal is to try to link education and football. Even if football does not become their fairytale story, for them to still have something to fall back on," Rulani says.
