Pyramids FC head coach Rulani Mokwena believes artificial intelligence and modern football technology can improve coaching, but insists they should never replace human judgement.
The South African tactician, who took charge of the Egyptian giants ahead of the 2026/27 season, has outlined how data, technology and adaptability shape his approach to modern football.
Speaking during an interview on Egyptian television programme Odet El Lebs, Mokwena explained that scientific tools have become increasingly useful in football, although coaches must retain the final decision.
“Modern scientific tools and artificial intelligence make a coach’s job easier, but they cannot replace the human element,” Mokwena said.
His position reflects one of the growing debates in modern football, where clubs increasingly rely on performance data when assessing players, preparing matches and making tactical decisions.
Mokwena, however, believes numbers cannot always capture everything happening with a player, particularly when a coach must consider confidence, emotions and individual circumstances.
“Sometimes, I choose not to substitute a player at half-time to protect him, even when the data and technology suggest that I should,” he explained.
That balance between technology and personal judgement appears central to the philosophy Mokwena is building at Pyramids.
The 39-year-old also believes successful teams cannot remain fixed to one tactical approach, instead requiring the ability to change according to different situations.
Mokwena compared that philosophy to a chameleon, whose ability to adjust to its surroundings provides what he considers an important lesson for football teams.
“The chameleon is an important model that can be applied to football. It is unique because of its ability to adapt to changes in its environment.”
He added that football teams must similarly adjust according to different opponents, playing conditions and surfaces rather than depending exclusively on one approach.
That philosophy represents an interesting evolution for a coach strongly associated with possession-based and dominant football during his successful spell at Mamelodi Sundowns.
“I love football, and this is how I choose to lead my team. My goal is to enjoy the game,” Mokwena said.
“When I was coaching at Sundowns, we implemented a specific style of play, and at that time, that style was dominating football.”
Mokwena has since coached Wydad Casablanca, MC Alger and Al-Ittihad before Pyramids appointed him as their new head coach in July 2026.
His latest comments suggest that while technology will continue occupying a bigger place within modern coaching, Mokwena remains determined to keep people at the centre of decision-making.
For Mokwena, data can provide information and artificial intelligence can assist analysis, but understanding the footballer remains a responsibility that technology cannot completely assume.