Rulani Mokwena: Pyramids FC have reached maturity and must expect to win every title

Rulani Mokwena says Pyramids FC have reached a stage in their development where challenging for and winning major trophies must become the club’s expectation.

The South African coach, who took charge of the Egyptian side ahead of the 2026/27 season, believes Pyramids have assembled a squad capable of competing for honours on multiple fronts.

Mokwena was appointed to succeed Krunoslav Jurcic, who oversaw a highly successful period at the club, including their historic CAF Champions League triumph. Pyramids also finished as Egyptian Premier League runners-up last season and will return to the continent’s premier club competition.

With that recent success comes increased pressure, but Mokwena believes the club is ready to embrace it.

“Pyramids have reached maturity, and it’s natural for us to expect to win every title,” Mokwena said.

The 39-year-old coach believes the strength of the squad gives him grounds for optimism, with a combination of established players and younger talent providing what he considers an ideal balance.

“The players are at their peak, with experienced stars and promising youngsters,” he added.

Mokwena’s immediate challenge is to maintain the standards established by his predecessor while putting his own tactical stamp on the team.

CAF has identified the former Mamelodi Sundowns coach as one of the coaches to watch during the 2026/27 inter-club season, with Pyramids expected to defend their position among Africa’s leading clubs.

The coach has also outlined his approach to preparing the squad for the demands of domestic and continental football.

Rather than simply replicating the intensity of competitive matches in training, Mokwena says he deliberately creates situations that can be even more demanding.

“I also make some training sessions harder than actual matches so they are prepared for difficult moments,” he said.

The philosophy is intended to ensure that players are accustomed to dealing with pressure, fatigue and adversity before those situations arise in competitive matches.

Mokwena also stressed the importance of motivation coming from within the squad rather than relying on external pressure from supporters, club officials or the media.

“External motivation can never be stronger than intrinsic motivation. Football is fundamentally about the players,” he said.

That belief places significant responsibility on the Pyramids players themselves. For Mokwena, sustained success cannot depend solely on instructions from the coaching staff; the squad must possess the internal desire to compete, improve and win.

The appointment represents another major step in Mokwena’s coaching career. Before moving to Egypt, he worked with Mamelodi Sundowns, Wydad Casablanca, MC Alger and Al-Ittihad, gaining experience across several of Africa’s leading football environments.

His spell at Sundowns remains the standout period of his career, when he helped the South African club win five major trophies, including four domestic league titles and the inaugural African Football League.

At Pyramids, however, the expectations are different. The club are no longer simply trying to establish themselves among Egypt’s elite. Their recent continental success has raised the bar, and Mokwena is now expected to compete for the biggest prizes.

The South African’s comments suggest he is embracing rather than avoiding those expectations.

For Pyramids, the challenge will be turning that ambition into consistent performances and silverware as they attempt to compete domestically while again targeting success in the CAF Champions League.

Mokwena believes the foundations are already in place. With an experienced squad, emerging young players and a demanding preparation programme, he expects Pyramids to approach the new campaign with one clear objective: winning.