Orlando Pirates Coaching Vacancy: Could Family Legacy See Rulani Mokwena Return Home?

With Jose Riveiro set to depart Orlando Pirates at the end of the season, the club has a crucial decision to make regarding his successor.

One intriguing option would be to bring back a familiar face Rulani Mokwena , a highly regarded coach who is currently at the helm of Moroccan giants Wydad Casablanca but finds himself under immense pressure.

Ten years ago, Mokwenas father Julius Sono lost a bitter legal battle for the ownership of the club. But despite that, Mokwena still went on to spend three years with the club, serving as an assistant coach to Milutin Sredojevic from 2017, and had a brief stint as interim coach in 2019.

It was at Mamelodi Sundowns , where he started his coaching career in 2014, and returned in 2020 after his time with Pirates, that Mokwena learned his trade and became one of the best tactical minds in South African football.

Under head coach Pitso Mosimane , he sat back and learned from the master, and when he took the wheel following Jingles departure, Mokwena thrived, leading the club to two league titles, one in which they fell agonisingly short of invincibility.