Club legend not keen on Mokwena’s potential return to Pirates

Former Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Moeneeb Josephs has shared his views on reports linking Rulani Mokwena with a return to the Buccaneers.

Following Pirates’ shock announcement last month that Jose Riveiro will leave the club at the end of the season, speculation has been rife as to who will fill his big shoes.

And reported by Phakaaathi earlier this month, Mokwena is said to be the leading candidate to replace the Spanish coach who has enjoyed success at Pirates since joining them as an unknown head coach in 2022.

Josephs, however, does not think Mokwena is the best man for the Pirates job, saying Mokwena’s departure at Pirates in 2019 left a sour taste in his mouth.

“If we’re looking at wanting to bring him back to Orlando Pirates, as good a coach as he is, why would we put on old shoes again? Why would you go back again?” Josephs told the Soccerbeat podcast.

“From what I can remember, when he was with us, there were a whole lot of issues, there were tantrums, our supporters weren’t too happy as well.

“It was boiling there with him. For me, he left a sour taste in my mouth when he left Orlando Pirates.”

‘We don’t need ego at Pirates’

Josephs added that Riveiro has instilled a winning culture at Pirates and insinuated that Mokwena’s “ego” could undo his good work.

“At Orlando Pirates, we’ve got this culture that coach Jose has brought. We don’t need someone to come and change that culture. We need someone to add to that culture.

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“I love him as a coach, but I understand that there’s a lot of ego involved, and we don’t need that at the moment.

“In my personal opinion, we don’t need an ego there now. We need someone who’s going to work with his players who understands where they are in their careers and to take them to that next level,” concluded Josephs.

Mokwena will end his turbulent stay with Moroccan side Wydad Athletic at the end of the season.