South African coaches’ African success built on ‘hyper-competitive’ league, says Wilken

South Africa’s increasingly prominent coaching presence across African football is the result of years of intense competition in the domestic game, according to former Raja Club Athletic assistant coach Darian Wilken.

Wilken believes the Betway Premiership created the demanding environment needed to develop coaches capable of succeeding at some of the continent’s biggest clubs.

South African managers taking prominent positions abroad has become increasingly common. Pitso Mosimane set a new benchmark in 2020 when he led Al Ahly to CAF Champions League success, and a growing number of his compatriots have since secured opportunities elsewhere in Africa.

This season, Rulani Mokwena has taken charge of Pyramids FC, Manqoba Mngqithi has joined Young Africans SC and Eric Tinkler has been appointed by Asante Kotoko SC.

Wilken was also recently part of that expanding group, leaving Moroccan giants Raja Club Athletic alongside head coach Fadlu Davids.

Speaking on The Car Wash Podcast, Wilken said the standard of competition in South Africa had played a central role in preparing coaches for the demands of continental football.

“The league that we have in South Africa is incredibly competitive. And I think that’s what created that environment for coaches to really push themselves and develop themselves,” Wilken said.

He pointed to the rivalry involving Mamelodi Sundowns as an example of how pressure was applied not only to the players but also to the technical staff at leading clubs.

Wilken recalled a title race in which Sundowns won the league on the final day, saying the quality of the coaching departments on opposing sides had created a similar type of contest behind the scenes.

“You remember when we were challenging with Sundowns at that time, and they won the league in the last game. I felt like also in the technical teams, there was that iron sharpening iron.”

The former Raja Club Athletic assistant said the depth of expertise available at the top domestic clubs helped raise standards across the league. He listed several coaches and specialists who were working in South African football during that period, including Pitso Mosimane, Mario, Manqoba Mngqithi, Rulani Mokwena, Micho, Kyle and Michael.

He also highlighted the number of performance analysts, sports scientists, strength and conditioning coaches and goalkeeper coaches involved in the daily work of those teams.

“Coach Pitso, we had Coach Mario, we had Coach Manqoba was there. Us we had Rulani, Micho, Kyle, Michael, three performance analysts this side, three performance analysts that side, sports scientists, strength and conditioning coaches from France. We had the goalkeeper coaches that are now at AS Monaco. This is the level we were working with at that time.”

Wilken said that level of investment and expertise made it difficult for coaches to stand still. The growing demands of the domestic league, he argued, encouraged them to keep improving and created a group with the ambition and ability to compete across Africa.

“I felt like the league grew because of that. We created a hyper-competitive league, which fuelled the ambition of the coaches.”