Rulani Mokwena has made an immediate impression in Egyptian football, winning the Coach of the Month award just 58 days after taking charge of Pyramids FC.
The South African coach has enjoyed a perfect start to his competitive tenure, guiding Pyramids to six wins from six matches across domestic and continental competition.
During that run, his team has scored 14 goals while conceding just once.
The early results have quickly established Mokwena as one of the coaches to watch in Egypt, while Pyramids have made an impressive start to their campaign.
Six wins and no goals conceded in the league
Mokwena’s Pyramids have been flawless in their opening four Egyptian Premier League matches.
The club began its league campaign with a 3-0 away victory over Ghazl El Mahalla, before defeating Abou Qir Fertilizers 2-0.
A 1-0 away win against Al Masry followed, before Pyramids secured another 1-0 victory over El Gouna.
The four victories have been achieved without conceding a single goal.
That defensive record, combined with 7 goals scored, has helped Pyramids move to the top of the Egyptian Premier League standings.
For Mokwena, the start represents a rapid adaptation to a new football environment after previously coaching in Morocco, Algeria and Libya.
Pyramids also making progress in Africa
Mokwena’s impressive start has extended beyond domestic competition.
Pyramids are also competing in the CAF Champions League, where they successfully navigated their opening qualifying assignment against Kenyan side Gor Mahia.
The Egyptian club won the first leg 2-0 away from home before completing a 7-1 aggregate victory with a 5-1 triumph in Cairo.
That result secured Pyramids’ passage into the next qualifying round.
With six competitive victories already on the board, Mokwena’s start has been recognised by the Egyptian Professional Footballers Association, which presented him with the Coach of the Month award.
Another milestone in Mokwena’s international career
The award adds another achievement to what has become an increasingly international coaching career for Mokwena.
The 39-year-old established himself in South African football during an extensive spell with Mamelodi Sundowns, where he accumulated numerous trophies.
His work with the Brazilians culminated in him being named PSL Coach of the Season for the 2023/24 campaign.
Mokwena then took his career abroad, accepting the head coaching position at Moroccan giants Wydad AC.
After his time in Morocco, he moved to Algeria to coach MC Alger, where he won the Algerian Super Cup and left the club top of the league with a five-point advantage and matches in hand.
He subsequently had a short spell with Libyan club Al Ittihad before taking up his current position at Pyramids.
Egypt provides another test
Mokwena’s move to Egypt represents another significant step in his career, with Pyramids competing at both domestic and continental level.
The club’s strong start has provided an early indication of what the South African coach is attempting to build.
However, the season is still in its early stages, and the demands will increase as Pyramids progress through the CAF Champions League and face a longer domestic campaign.
For now, though, the numbers make for impressive reading.
Six matches. Six victories. Four league clean sheets. Fourteen goals scored and just one conceded.
And only 58 days after his appointment, Mokwena has already collected his first individual award in Egypt.
The next challenge will be maintaining that momentum as Pyramids compete on multiple fronts.
What comes next for Mokwena?
Mokwena’s immediate focus will be on keeping Pyramids at the top of the Egyptian Premier League while continuing their CAF Champions League campaign.
After successful spells in South Africa, Morocco and Algeria, the Egyptian chapter has begun with another run of positive results.
Whether Pyramids can sustain that form throughout the season remains to be seen, but Mokwena has wasted little time making his presence felt.
What do you expect Rulani Mokwena to win with Pyramids this season?
