Orlando Pirates assistant coach Rulani Mokwena (Photo by Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images)
Mpengesi says he has agreed in principle to sign Mokwena as the club’s permanent coach once the 2019/2020 season wraps up.
Mokwena joined the Chilli Boys in March from Pirates until the end of the season after Norman Mapeza resigned as the head coach.
Mpengesi said he had talked to Mokwena about the permanent move and the coach would like to stay in Port Elizabeth.
Mpengesi was quoted by IOL: “We have our ambitious coach here, Rhulani. He is already planning for next season. We only need six points to run away from relegation. Rhulani is a high profile coach. Most players want to follow him. We are blessed to have a coach like him. Surely we are keeping him for long term.
“I can say 99% is done. He has confirmed with me that he wants to be here. He wants to stay. He knows exactly what is a problem at Chippa United and why we are not winning trophies. He will rather stay here at Chippa United as the head coach then go and coach somewhere else because Chippa United is for him and he sees a future here.
“We’ve already started not even negotiations actually. In principle, we’ve agreed that he is staying. We are finalising now, we are doing the last details of the contract. I’ve spoken to his manager. He likes the club. His role model is Pitso Mosimane [of Mamelodi Sundowns]. When Mosimane joined Sundowns, they were not stable but turned Sundowns around and that is exactly what he wants to do at Chippa.”
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