Pirates legend asks fans to be patient with Mokwena

Orlando Pirates legend Jerry Sikhosana has urged the club fans to be patient with Rhulani Mokwena.

Mokwena was appointed as Pirates caretaker coach following the shock departure of Micho Sredojevic last week Friday.

The young coach has one loss and one draw so far, and some Pirates fans are already starting to question the club management’s decision to give him the head coach job.

“We need to be more patient with our local coaches because we are the same people that cry foul when the national team brings a foreign coach and he doesn’t do well, and we say, ‘Why don’t we bring in a local?’” Sikhosana told Eyewitness News.

READ: Mokwena ‘privileged’ to coach Orlando Pirates

“Let’s give the locals (a chance). Let them fail and learn from their mistakes. You’ll never know, maybe this is our next Bafana Bafana coach.”

Following their draw against AmaZulu on Tuesday, Pirates’ winless run has extended to four matches across all competitions this season. Sikhosana, however, says Mokwena should not be blamed for the team’s struggles.

“I am a bit disappointed, especially considering the benchmark they set last season when Micho was still around. But you can’t fault Rulani because there are a lot of things that have happened in the last 72 hours.”

Pirates will next face Green Eagles in the second leg of the Caf Champions League preliminary round on Saturday.

Bucs are trailing the Zambian side 1-0 on aggregate and they will be looking to overturn the deficit at Orlando Stadium.

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