Inside Pirates' plans to bring Mokwena back

Orlando Pirates are believed to have re-opened talks with coach Rhulani Mokwena after the departure of Jose Riveiro. The highly rated Mokwena once served the Buccaneers in various capacities and has since built an impressive resume both locally and abroad. Mokwena, a former head coach of Mamelodi Sundowns and Wydad Athletic Club, is not just a tactician but also part of South African football royalty, with deep family roots in the Buccaneers' history. At 38, he boasts multiple top-flight trophy successes and other achievements, including an African Football League trophy and invaluable experience from his recent stint in the Moroccan top flight. He returns to the local football scene

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Insiders indicate that Orlando Pirates' management is in informal discussions with Rhulani Mokwena about a potential return to the club. After years of biding his time and accruing experience, he seems ripe for a leadership role. But competition is heating up: Egypt's Pyramids FC, fresh off their CAF Champions League triumph, are also probing his availability. Heading into pre-season, Pirates are under pressure to secure a coach before their Spain tour.

It would be a homecoming for Mokwena

Mokwena initially joined Pirates as an assistant coach in 2017 under Milutin Sredojevic, who was the head coach at the time. The young tactician arrived at the Houghton-based club following his first exit from Mamelodi Sundowns, where he had been an assistant coach in Pitso Mosimane's technical team. Mokwena later became an interim coach in August 2019 at age 32, stabilising a rocky side until December. He then reverted to assistant coach under Josef Zinnbauer until March 2020, before a short spell at Chippa United and a return to Sundowns later in 2020.

Mokwena's tenure at Wydad AC (July 2024 — April 2025) was a mixed bag. He inherited a side in transition, low on confidence and grappling with structural issues behind the scenes. Despite those challenges, Mokwena managed to instil glimpses of an attacking identity and laid the groundwork for long-term rebuilding. However, results remained inconsistent - a run of six consecutive winless league matches ultimately led to the club placing him on special leave in April, with reports citing “psychological pressures” amid heightened expectations.