Former Orlando Pirates captain Lucky Lekgwathi has weighed in on the rumours linking Rulani Mokwena with a return to the club, saying for him what matters is that whoever comes in, elevates the team.
Pirates are in the market for a new coach after the departure of one of the most successful coaches at the club Jose Riveiro who left the side this month.
The Spaniard won five domestic trophies in his two-and-half-year tenure while also reaching the semi-finals of the CAF Champions League. Media reports have heavily linked Mokwena, who recently parted ways with Wydad Casablanca, with a return to the Buccaneers where he had a stint on an interim basis in 2019.
‘Phinda Mzala’ told iDiski Times writer Lethabo Kganyago in edition 205 of the newspaper that for him the name and face of the coach do not matter and referenced how underrated Riveiro was when he arrived in South Africa and went on to silence doubters.
“Look I don’t have a problem with the coach as long as the coach can come and take this team to another level,” Lekgwathi told iDiski Times.
“Look at [Mamelodi] Sundowns, Rulani left, they got a new coach and that coach has now won the league and the coach is in the final of the Champions League. We played the semi-finals of the Champions League this season, so next season we need someone who is going to take us to the final and challenge for the league as you know now our problem is in the league where we are not consistent.
“No matter who is coming, we as supporters, we just need to make sure we support him. When Jose came people called him a plumber and he surprised everyone. We supported the plumber and look where the plumber is today.
“He’s one of the best coaches to have coached Pirates. That’s why I’m saying whoever is coming to coach Orlando Pirates, even if he’s a plumber, let’s support that plumber or carpenter.
“We must also be patient with the coach, I mean we were patient with [Ruud] Krol and Riveiro.”
You can read Lekgwathi’s full interview with Kganyago in edition 205, click below to download or fill in the form to have it sent to you for free every week.
