Former Orlando Pirates coach Rhulani Mokwena during training at the Rand Stadium. Image: @TheSeaRobbers / Twitter
Orlando Pirates: Rhulani Mokwena lists FIVE players he helped improve at Bucs
Former Orlando Pirates coach Rhulani Mokwena has made a special mention of players who elevated to higher levels while he was in Soweto.
Former Orlando Pirates coach Rhulani Mokwena during training at the Rand Stadium. Image: @TheSeaRobbers / Twitter
Many Orlando Pirates fans may be keen to admit that removing Rhulani Mokwena from the Bucs bench was a blunder from the club’s decision-makers, just look at how Mamelodi Sundowns are flying right now.
MOKWENA SAYS COACHES HAVE TO CHALLENGE AND IMPROVE PLAYERS
During a recent chat with one of Soccer Laduma’s leading journalists Tshepang Mailwane, Mokwena was asked about the immediate success of recruiting Teboho Mokoena to Chloorkop in January.
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The former Bucs coach’s reply went as far as mentioning players he mentored at Orlando Pirates alongside Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic.
“At Orlando Pirates, we could already see the work with improving the players, and at Sundowns we can already see the work we are doing to improve the players,” Mokwena said in the latest issue of Soccer Laduma.
“At Pirates, we turned a lot of players, like Vincent Pule, [Thembinkosi] Lorch, Ben Motshwari, Gabadinho Mhango, Tshego [Tseghofasto Mabasa,] Mokwena said.
“These are the players we assisted greatly in terms of improving their performance, as well as their pedigree in the South African game.
“The work of any coach is to challenge players and improve,” Mokwena added.
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Meanwhile, Mokwena’s Sundowns are on course to possibly lift an unprecedented quadruple. The MTN8 is already in the bag, there is still great promise to win the CAF Champions League, DStv Premiership, and Nedbank Cup.
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JOSEF ZINNBAUER ON WHY HE LEFT ORLANDO PIRATES
Who can forget Josef Zinnbauer at Pirates? He was the club’s first and only German coach after taking over from Mokwena.
The German lasted just under eight months in Soweto before the club announced his surprise resignation. He had delivered 15 wins, nine draws, and three defeats from 27 games. So why did he decide to pack his bags and hit OR Tambo? Read the full story here.
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