Pirates Legend Tso Backs Rulani Mokwena to Replace Riveiro Next Season

Orlando Pirates’ all-time leading goalscorer, Benedict “Tso” Vilakazi, has thrown his weight behind Rulani Mokwena to take over the reins at the Soweto giants next season, following the impending departure of head coach Jose Riveiro.

Riveiro has already communicated to the club that he will not be renewing his contract when it expires at the end of June, paving the way for a new era at Pirates.

Vilakazi, who scored a remarkable 52 goals from midfield for the Buccaneers during his illustrious career, believes Mokwena is the ideal candidate to take the team forward—both because of his coaching acumen and his availability after a turbulent stint in North Africa.

“I’m not suggesting this just because Rulani might have unfinished business with Pirates,” Vilakazi explained. “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.”

Mokwena, who previously worked at Pirates as assistant and later co-coach, is set to leave Moroccan giants Wydad Casablanca at the end of the current season. Despite some success during his time there, his development-driven philosophy has reportedly clashed with the club’s demand for instant results.

“At Wydad, the challenge is that North African teams tend not to believe in development. They focus on immediate results,” said Vilakazi.

“Coach Rulani prefers to nurture and develop his own team, which has led to a conflict with the Wydad management. 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’s coaching credentials are undeniable. During his tenure with Mamelodi Sundowns, he helped the club to four DStv Premiership titles—including as co-coach—as well as the inaugural African Football League crown.

With Riveiro set to bow out after guiding Pirates through two productive seasons, including a Nedbank Cup title and MTN8 success, the club now faces the challenge of appointing a new tactician capable of maintaining and building upon that foundation.

For Vilakazi and many Pirates fans, Rulani Mokwena may just be the man to do it.