‘I can consider Orlando Pirates' job, I rejected Zamalek’ - Rulani Mokwena

Rulani Mokwena: Photo Credit: Wydad AC media.

Top South African coach Rulani Mokwena has said he would be open to listening to an offer from Orlando Pirates, while also revealing that he withdrew from the race for the Zamalek SC top job.

The former Wydad Athletics Club mentor disclosed this in an interview with SuperSport Television’s Africa Soccer show on Thursday, June 5.

When asked by programme host Thomas Mlambo if he would consider returning to the Soweto giants, Mokwena said he would be open to weighing up the option.

“I don’t know. I have just arrived back in the country. Of course, I would consider it. It is a big club. It still has people who are very close to me and to my heart. I am very fond of Dr Irvin Khoza. He will always have a special place in my heart,” he said.

Featuring as a guest on the programme, the ex-Mamelodi Sundowns trainer further disclosed that he had received offers from South Africa and abroad.

He added that he would consider all the offers apart from Zamalek, owing to his close relationship with his mentor Pitso Mosimane, who is also reportedly earmarked for the same job.

“Maybe the easiest to beat would be Zamalek. I didn’t hear from them after I had said I heard that coach Pitso was also in the running for this position, and my relationship and my respect for him would not allow me to compete for the same job,” he explained.

“It wouldn’t sit well with me, so I pulled out. I said I would rather they give it to Pitso. My agency said, "but this is a big club", and I said my respect for Pitso and what he has done for my career wouldn’t allow me to do that.”

Mokwena also touched on opinions from some quarters in South African football who feel that he should rejoin Sundowns. The talk has emerged following the team’s CAF Champions League final loss to Pyramids FC.

Reacting to such talk, the youthful tactician said: “I am grateful that after the season we have had, there are still people who look at our capacity and think that these people we can add a lot of value. It is not just locally, but there are a lot of teams abroad.”

The former Chippa United trainer also explained that all the offers he was talking about were at a preliminary stage involving his agent and the interested clubs.

“I don’t get involved that much in the conversations. My agent deals with that. Once they meet each other, I start watching games. I start analysing games. I start analysing their squad to see where a team can go, the league, and the competition. I don’t get involved much in the conversation my agency does,” he said.

Mokwena is currently without a job, having parted ways with Wydad AC in his first season. His exit from the Moroccan side coincided with the departure of Jose Riveiro from Pirates to join Al Ahly.