Wydad Athletic Club coach Rulani Mokwena has strongly condemned the shocking incident in which rocks were thrown at his players following their 2-2 draw against arch-rivals AS FAR Rabat on Thursday evening.
Speaking to the media after the match, Mokwena shared his deep frustration and disappointment, bringing with him two of the rocks that had been aimed at the Wydad players as they made their way off the pitch.
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Mokwena revealed that one of his players, goalkeeper Youssef El Motie, was struck by one of the rocks during the chaotic aftermath of the match, which ended in a hard-fought draw. The 37-year-old coach expressed his disbelief at the actions of a small section of AS FAR fans, stressing that such behaviour has no place in football, particularly in a country like Morocco, where the sport is cherished by millions.
"Football is not this [pointing at the rocks]. Morocco is not this," Mokwena said.
"This is one of the things that disappoint me. The rocks were thrown at the players. We are rivals for sure and it's played in that spirit and it's sad for me to bring the rocks here but somebody has to do it, before someone loses their life. I'm told this is normal but it cannot be normal that players have to play against an opponent that is very good, and is a big club, an amazing club in an amazing country where I have received nothing but love.
"Okay, we are rivals - but we are not enemies! It makes me sad that my players had to escape this," he added.
Mokwena's strong words came after his side's 2-2 draw in a tense encounter, which left Wydad Athletic in third place in the Moroccan Botola, seven points behind the leaders, RS Berkane. The coach made it clear that while the rivalry is part of the essence of Moroccan football, the safety and respect of the players should always come first.
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