A MODERN 
APPROACH:
COACH
RULANI MOKWENA'S
OUTLOOK ON
THE 2022 QATAR
FIFA WORLD CUP
© Sydney Mahlangu - Backpage PixAuthor: Kamokgelo Malinga & Sijabulile NdlovuModern football coaches have introduced new philosophies that have been adopted by some of the world's best-performing football clubs. With international squads such as England and Germany being led by relatively young coaches, the 2022 FIFA World Cup is likely to be a spectacle of world-class football. The Mamelodi Sundowns Digital Magazine sat down with The Brazilian’s very own head coach, Rulani Mokwena, to gauge his outlook on the modern football conduct that is likely to be showcased in Qatar’s edition of the FIFA World Cup.
Football is an evolutionary sport.

Approaching the commencement of the 22nd edition of the FIFA tournament, it is highly likely that the current generation of coaches will implement modern football conduct into the beautiful game and merge it with the traditional governance of coaching. An exemplar in his own right, 35-year-old Rulani Mokwena who recently took up the role of head coach of the Tshwane giants shared his expectations regarding football trends that enthusiasts can expect throughout the FIFA World Cup.

“I think we will see a lot of goals coming from set pieces. I also think there will be many goals developed from central areas and not that many goals being scored from crosses. Another trend that I foresee is many teams opting for the two-striker approach, which was very successful during the days of Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke in yesteryear. Apart from seeing a lot of build-up schemes and variations of how teams start the ball from their box, it will be interesting to see the intensity of the matches.”
Historically, elite football clubs around the world have always chosen older, and more experienced coaches to be at the helm of their squads.

Masandawana’s head coach shared his top 5 young coaches to look out for in Qatar.

Additionally, Coach Rulani gave props to fellow African coach, Aliou Cisse who won Senegal’s first-ever AFCON accolade in all sixteen editions of the tournament that they have participated in since 1957.
“The trend of young national coaches is still quite rare. But, when you look at Cisse and what he has done for the Senegalese national team, you realise that he embodies what coaching is truly about – trusting the process. It took him six years to build a winning team, with numerous failed attempts in between. However, he emerged victorious in the end; winning Senegal’s first-ever AFCON trophy.”

The Brazilians’ head coach also shared a list of young players whose performances are likely to be impressive in Qatar. Polish forward Arkadiusz Milik, and English midfielder, Jude Bellingham are some of the formidable players on that list. Furthermore, the decorated coach emphasised the importance of allowing young players to showcase their talent at the 2022 World Cup.
In conclusion, Coach Mokwena was requested to share the countries he is rooting for to clinch the 2022 Qatar FIFA World Cup. Senegal. Uruguay, Brazil, Belgium, Spain, and France are the countries that the coach anticipates to come out on top in the world-renowned football tournament.
HEAD COACH RULANI MOKWENA’S TOP 5 COACHES AND WHAT HE LIKES ABOUT THEIR COACHING STYLES:ALIOU CISSE(Senegal)
46 YEARS OLD
“Cisse is persistent. It took 6 years for him to build a strong foundation with the Senegalese national team, which eventually led to him winning the Africa Cup of Nations.”GARETH SOUTHGATE(England)
52 YEARS OLD
“Southgate’s football principles are modern and his players show flexibility, as well as good intensity.” HANSI FLICK(Germany)
57 YEARS OLD
“Flick’s squad demonstrates tactical flexibility, and adaptation and  resembles good principles of understanding the direction of the game.”LUIS ENRIQUE(Spain)
52 YEARS OLD
“Enrique’s team is expressive and flexible on the pitch.”ROBERTO MARTINEZ(Belgium)
49 YEARS OLD
Martinez’s squad shows good control when there’s chaos on the pitch. They also have good pace and high pressing abilities."