Soweto giants backed to replace Jose Riveiro with jobless Rhulani Mokwena - 'He plays the type of football that Orlando Pirates enjoys' & 'it’s a perfect moment for him to build his own thing at' Bucs

Jose Riveiro will not be renewing his Orlando Pirates after a successful three seasons at the club.

The likes of Pitso Mosimane, Rhulani Mokwena and Benni McCarthy are being linked with the Buccaneers.

Former Pirates coach Fadlu Davids believes Mokwena is best suited to succeed Riveiro despite the 38-year-old struggling as Wydad Casablanca's coach.

“Pirates shouldn’t look no further than coach Rulani, I think he’ll be the perfect fit because he knows the club and the chairman [Dr Irvin Khoza],” Davids said on Mike Morton Talks Football.

“He plays the type of football that Orlando Pirates enjoys. Over his period with Micho [Milutin Sredojević], they built a very competitive team that challenged Mamelodi Sundowns. 

“I think this is a perfect moment. He’s matured a lot as a coach," added the former Maritzburg United coach.

"He had a tough time with Wydad, but that will only make him stronger. I think it’s a perfect moment for him to build his own thing at Orlando Pirates because at that time, it was him and Micho. When he took over, it was tough at that moment.”

Interestingly, Davids himself has been linked with a move back to the Buccaneers after also gaining experience coaching in Russia, Morocco and currently Tanzania.

The next Pirates coach will be under pressure to match the level Riveiro took the Soweto giants to, especially by winning five Cup finals in three seasons.

There would even be more expectations as Pirates have not won the Premier Soccer League title since 2012 and last lifted the Caf Champions League in 1995.

The Buccaneers could announce a new coach before the end of the current season or just after its conclusion.

The club would want the new man to have enough time to prepare for the new season.