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Darian Wilken, Raja Casablanca, September 2025Raja Casablanca
Michael Madyira

OFFICIAL: Two more former Orlando Pirates coaches join Moroccan giants as South Africans continue to invade North Africa

Local coaches continue to get big jobs in foreign lands, providing the country with a deep pool of experienced trainers, something that could benefit Bafana Bafana in future. Morocco has now become a place where South African tacticians are trusted.

  • Fadlu Davids, Raja Casablanca, September 2025Raja Casablanca

    Fadlu Davids back in Morocco

    Raja Casablanca announced Fadlu David's as their new head coach this week as the South African left his role at Simba SC in Tanzania. 

    Having previously served as Josef Zinnbauer's assistant coach at Raja, the Moroccan environment is not new to Davids. 

    He was given the luxury to appoint his own backroom staff and he took with him four South Africans, including two former Orlando Pirates coaches.

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  • Wayne Sandilands of Orlando Pirates, October 2019BackpagePix

    Who are the ex-Pirates coaches at Raja

    Davids is joined by Darian Wilken who is a former Pirates performance analyst and interim assistant coach.

    He is now the Raja assistant coach while former Buccaneers assistant goalkeeper coach Wayne Sandilands is in charge of the Morocco giants' custodians.

    Their compatriots Mueez Kajee and Durell Butler join them as video analyst and fitness trainer respectively with the latter having previously worked at Moroka Swallows.

  • Fadlu Davids, Simba SC, September 2025Backpage

    South Africans making a name in Africa

    Leading an African giant like Raja is a big vote of confidence for Davids who continues to build his name on the continent.

    Having worked at Raja before, before jobs in Russia and Tanzania, the former Durban City trainer is moulding himself into a future Bafana Bafana coach.

    However, he is in a demanding job at a club known for not being patient with their coaches like their fellow North African giants and that presents the ex-Pirates assistant coach with arguably the toughest test of his career.

    South Africans are getting jobs in North Africa with Tshepo Mahao a performance analyst at Algerian side JS Kaylie under Josef Zinnbauer while Rhulani Mokwena has a number of his compatriots forming his backroom staff at MC Alger.

    Thembinkosi Lorch is also a key player at Wydad Casablanca who have Raja as their fiercest rivals. 

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  • Fadlu Davids, Simba SC, May 2025Backpage

    Davids' priorities

    Davids' immediate task is to help fourth-placed Raja climb up the Botola Pro League table where they have two points fewer than leaders RS Berkane after just two games. 

    At a minimum for the club's passionate fan base will be a return to the CAF Champions League next season after the Green Eagles finished fifth in the Botola League last season. There will also be high expectations for the South African coach to push the team for a title tilt and deep runs in domestic cup competitions.

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