Orlando Pirates legend Benedict Vilakazi has already named his preferred candidate to take over from outgoing coach Jose Riveiro.
Riveiro is coming to the end of his three-year contract at Pirates and has already announced that he will not extend his stay at Orlando Stadium, leaving the Buccaneers with the tough job of finding a suitable replacement.
However, Vilakazi, who is Pirates’ record goal scorer, feels his old team should not look further than Rulani Mokwena, who had a brief stint with the club, and is currently enduring a tough time with Moroccan giants Wydad Athletic Club.
Wydad and Mokwena have agreed to part ways at the end of this season, after the former Mamelodi Sundowns coach came under increasing pressure to deliver instant results with a new team, making him available for Pirates and other clubs that might be looking for a coach ahead of the 2025-26 campaign.
Vilakazi defends Rulani’s time in Morocco
“I'm not suggesting this just because Rulani might have unfinished business with Pirates,”Vilakazi told KickOff.
“He is the only candidate available after the issues he's facing at Wydad. Rulani is a good coach, and I believe he can elevate Orlando Pirates to the next level.
“At Wydad, the challenge is that North African teams tend not to believe in development. They focus on immediate results.”
Vilakzi, who scored 52 goals for Pirates, feels Mokwena would be ideal for Pirates as he also likes to develop players and build strong teams over a period of time, something he is not being afforded in Morocco.
Why is ‘Tso’ vouching for Mokwena?
“Coach Rulani prefers to nurture and develop his own team, which has led to a conflict with the Wydad management,” added the former midfielder, affectionately known as Tso.
“They want ready-made players who can deliver results instantly. While they appreciate South African coaches, they don't fully understand that our approach requires patience to build a strong and sustainable team over the years.”
Mokwena has endured a tough time since joining Wydad at the start of this season, failing to challenge for the title while his team are in a battle to finish second and secure CAF Champions League qualification.
He, however, has plenty of credit in the bank thanks to his four-year spell at Sundowns, where he won as many league titles, the first two as co-coach with Manqoba Mngqithi, as well as the inaugural African Football League last season.
