On the back of reports that Orlando Pirates are considering bring back Rulani Mokwena as a replacement for Jose Riveiro, legend Eugene Zwane has given his view on the matter.
Mokwena is currently unattached after parting ways with Wydad Casablanca in the tail end of last season.
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The 38-year-old coach becoming available ahead of 2025/26 has coincided with Pirates being in the market for a new coach after Riveiro left for Al Ahly.
Reports in the local media have suggested the club is in talks with the attention-to-detail mentor, with the view of bringing him back to their camp.
His last stint at the Houghton-based outfit, particularly as a caretaker coach in 2019 did not live up to expectations, as he was relieved of his duties after just five months, with results not going his way.
The biggest question on Mokwena being linked with a return to Pirates is whether he has improved or gained enough experience to handle Ezimnyama, with a growing sentiment going around that he has matured since then.
"I agree (that Mokwena has matured), four, five years ago he was still very young, learning the ropes. I think he has picked up experience over the years," Zwane told KickOff.com.
"When he was head coach at Sundowns he was thrown in at the deep end but I think he handled that very well.
"Aside from the fact that he didn't win the (CAF) Champions League, it doesn't mean he didn't do well (as head coach at Sundowns). You could see his influence in terms of how Sundowns were playing.
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"You could see how the players were committed under him. I think he has matured as a coach. You saw at Wydad, coaching an array of big names, doing very well, improving the team's possession.
"Aside from the fact that he didn't qualify for the (CAF) Champions League, he did reasonably did well. He is developing his character as a top coach, as a tough coach, as a wily and knowledgeable coach.
"So I think he qualifies to coach any of the big teams in South Africa at the moment," added the former defender.
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