Rulani Mokwena Is Gonna Be The New Orlando Pirates Coach.

The South African football scene is buzzing after Benedict “Tso” Vilakazi, a legendary former Orlando Pirates midfielder, boldly claimed that Rulani Mokwena could soon take the reins as the new head coach of the Soweto giants.

While there’s no official confirmation from the club, Tso’s comments have ignited widespread speculation about a possible Mokwena return to Orlando Pirates.

In a recent media interview, Tso Vilakazi said, “Rulani Mokwena has Pirates in his blood. I won’t be surprised if he returns as head coach. In fact, I believe he’s coming back. That’s where he belongs.”

Vilakazi, who remains close to the game and frequently comments on coaching and tactical matters in the PSL, believes that Mokwena’s time away from the Buccaneers has prepared him for a successful return. “You can see how much he’s grown at Sundowns. He’s not the same coach from 2019. He’s matured, he’s learned, and now he’s ready to handle the pressure at Pirates.”

Rulani Mokwena’s coaching career began at Pirates as an assistant coach under Milutin “Micho” Sredojević.

After Micho’s abrupt departure in 2019, Mokwena stepped in as interim coach.

Although the results were mixed during his short tenure, he showed glimpses of tactical intelligence and modern football ideas.

He then joined Mamelodi Sundowns, first as co-coach alongside Manqoba Mngqithi and Steve Komphela, before eventually being named sole head coach.

Under his leadership, Sundowns have dominated the DStv Premiership, playing an exciting brand of football and achieving consistent results.

In early 2024, Mokwena took a brief sabbatical from South African football and has been linked with overseas clubs, including a short stint consulting for Wydad AC in Morocco.

With Pirates showing improvement under their current technical team but still falling short of consistently challenging Mamelodi Sundowns, some fans and analysts believe a shake-up at the top could help the club reclaim its former glory.

Bringing in a coach like Rulani Mokwena, who knows the Pirates culture and has grown significantly in stature, could be a masterstroke.

Tso Vilakazi emphasized this in his remarks: “Look at what Mokwena did at Sundowns — structure, style, discipline. That’s what Pirates need. He has unfinished business at Mayfair.”

As of now, Orlando Pirates have made no official statement regarding any coaching changes.

Rulani Mokwena is also yet to address the rumors.

However, Vilakazi’s words have fueled talk among supporters who are eager to see a more competitive side take on the likes of Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs in the coming 2025/26 season.

On social media, #MokwenaToPirates has started trending, with many supporters split on the idea.

Some believe he’s exactly what the club needs, while others worry that his return could bring pressure and controversy. “He left too soon last time.Now he’s ready,” one fan tweeted.“I respect Rulani, but he needs to finish his job at Sundowns,” said another.

Whether Rulani Mokwena will truly become the next Orlando Pirates head coach remains to be seen.

But with Tso Vilakazi putting the idea into the public domain, and with Mokwena’s proven track record, this is one development in South African football that fans and pundits will be watching closely.