This weekend sees the start of the 2025/2026 Morocco Women’s Championship D1 League season, and with it a new chapter for former Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies head coach Jerry Tshabalala.
The two-time TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Champions League winner has been in North Africa for close to two months following his appointment as the head coach of SC Casablanca. He has been taking the players through their paces to get ready for the start of the new campaign.
“The past month has been about building relationships, instilling my philosophy, and making sure the players understand what I expect from them,” said Tshabalala from his base in Morocco.
Kappa, as he is fondly known by many in football circles, was left clubless for a few months after his former employers placed him on suspension in December last year for allegations of misconduct – but to date there has not been any feedback on the matter from the club.
In their opening match of the season, SC Casablanca are away to FUS Rabat with the clash taking place on Saturday, 13 September 2025.
The two sides have met six times previous, and Tshabalala’s new team has dominated this fixture with five wins and one draw – but he is taking nothing for granted.
“Yes, the stats favour SC in the past, but history won’t win us the game, what matters is how we perform on the day,” said Tshabalala.
This will be the Tembisa-born coach’s first club since he left Sundowns Ladies whom he served for about 12 years. During his time in Morocco SC have played several friendly matches to sharpen their readiness for the upcoming season, and now the 45-year old says ‘let the games begin.’
CentreCircle.online caught up with Tshabalala ahead of the clash with FUS Rabat.
You have been in Morocco over a month preparing your team for the start of the league, which is coming this weekend, how are things going?
Things are going very well. When I arrived in Morocco, I knew it was going to be an adjustment period for both myself and the players, but I must say the commitment and hunger I’ve seen from the team has been outstanding. The past month has been about building relationships, instilling my philosophy, and making sure the players understand what I expect from them. The response has been positive, and I’m very encouraged with how much we’ve progressed.
In terms of readiness, where do you think you are as a team?
We are close to where I want us to be. Of course, with any new environment, it takes time to implement ideas fully, but I believe we have laid a strong foundation. Physically, the players are in good shape, and tactically, they are beginning to adapt to my style of play. We still need a few touches here and there, but overall, I feel we are ready to compete when the league kicks off.
How crucial is that opening match against FUS Rabat? According to stats, SCC has always had an upper hand (5 wins, 1 draw)?
It’s very crucial. Opening matches always set the tone for the season, and coming up against a strong side like FUS, we need to show our intentions early. Yes, the stats favour SCC in the past, but history won’t win us the game, what matters is how we perform on the day. A positive result will not only give us confidence but also send a message that we are ready to compete at the highest level. We respect FUS, but we are also preparing to impose our game and start the season on the right note.
How many friendly matches did you play and how did you fare?
We’ve played several friendly matches to test ourselves against different styles. We played four official friendlies, won two, drew one, and lost one. For me, it was never about the results at this stage; it was about testing combinations, seeing how the players respond to instructions, and identifying areas we need to improve. The performances showed me that this team has a lot of quality and potential.
Being new in Morocco, what lessons did you learn from the friendly matches that will help you going forward?
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that Moroccan football is very tactical and competitive. Teams are well organized, they defend with discipline, and they punish you if you lose focus. That means we need to be sharper in transitions and more clinical in the final third. Another lesson is about the mentality, the players here are very passionate, and if we can channel that passion with proper structure, we can achieve great things. For me personally, it has also been about understanding the culture, the pace of the league, and how to blend my philosophy with the strengths of Moroccan players.
Morocco Division 1 Féminin League fixtures:
Saturday, 13 September 2025:
FUS Rabat vs Sporting Casablanca
Hilal Temara vs Itehad Tanger
Municipale Laayoune vs Raja Ait Iazza
Sunday, 14 September 2025:
Wydad Casablanca vs Assa-Zag
Phoenix Marrakech vs FAR Rabat
By Matlhomola Morake
