Mokwena explains Pirates advice to Mbule amid Chiefs offer

Rulani Mokwena has lifted the lid on his advice to Sipho Mbule that made the midfielder opt to join Orlando Pirates last year.

Mbule made a surprise move to Pirates ahead of the 2025-26 season, signing a one-year deal with an option for another. He hit the ground running and impressed in midfield, earning him a return to the Bafana Bafana squad as well as a place in the team to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

However, Mbule, who made 23 appearances for the Buccaneers, fell down the pecking order in the second half of the season, with Pirates opting against extending his stay.

He had, however, made his mark in the first half of the season as Abdeslam Ouaddou’s team won the MTN8 and Carling Knockout while staying top of the Premier Soccer League table before winning the title.

In a recent interview, ‘Master Chef’ revealed that he sought advice from Mokwena before joining Pirates but he also had a chance to sign for Kaizer Chiefs as well as other clubs.

Mokwena on why Mbule was right fit

“I grew up in Orlando West, I grew up watching Orlando Pirates as a kid. I’m fortunate enough to also understand the culture of the club,” Mokwena told South African Football Journalists Association as quoted by iDiski Times.

“I’m fortunate enough to understand the history of the club. I am fortunate enough that I spent many years being educated about the club by Dr. Koza.

“But having said that, I also know what type of player the club appreciates, the fans appreciate. I know the type of football that is in the veins of the [fans] and I knew it better once I had coached there because there’s a part of the stadium – now it’s Orlando Amstel Arena – but when it was really Orlando Stadium, there was there’s always been a part there on the side, the grandstand that has the players like Steve Lekolea, like Thabo Rakhale, like Khethokwakhe Masuku and [Thabo] Qalinge, these type of players that always play close to this side of the of the pitch.

“And I know that the type of player that Pirates appreciates, and they are quite different. The players that are appreciated at the Kaizer Chiefs, they are quite different. The players that are appreciated culturally at Mamelodi Sundowns, they are quite different, and the players that are appreciated at Orlando Pirates have a different type of profile.”

The Pyramids FC coach says having worked with Mbule at Mamelodi Sundowns, he knew he had the quality and aura that Pirates supporters would love.

Pyramids coach reveals midfielder’s key trait

“And Sipho Mbule has this type of profile, where at the Amstel Arena, first is you have to give us a show, we pay to come and watch. And always it has been like this,” he added.

“The club has always had in the history from a long time Bazooka Seshweni to John Moeti to Dumisa Ngobe to Gavin Lane, Gerald Raphahlela, Mark Fish, these players were always stalwarts. They were important cornerstones for the club, but the fans never paid.

“They the Orlando Pirates fans don’t pay tickets to come and watch these types of players, with all due respect. You know the Orlando Pirates fans tell you they come to watch the Steve Lekoleas, the Teko Modises, the Siphos.

“That’s why Sipho Mbule till today, if you ask the Pirates fans, and I think Sipho made a very good decision because till today, I think if you ask the Pirates fans, they enjoyed Sipho Mbule. They enjoyed having Sipho on the pitch and and caressing the ball.”

Mokwena then went into details over what separates Mbule from the rest.

Pirates decision lauded as best move

“And you can go into the history you will find many of these players and even some great players have played for Orlando Pirates, but there’s a small aspect that separates the ones that are really loved by the fans to the ones that are really an important cornerstone of the club,” he stated.

“And you see it, you know, Tebogo Moloi, these type of players, Jomo Sono. I mean, the picture that stands out for many years is Jomo Sono standing on the ball against Kaizer Chiefs. You know, this is one of the most important pictures for Orlando Pirates in its history.

“So these type of players like Sipho, who have this capacity to bring this level of entertainment into the pitch, they have more comfort in playing for Orlando Pirates than most other players who lack this capacity.”

Mbule is now playing for Zakho SC in Iraq but Mokwena feels vindicated that he gave the 28-year-old the right advice.

“And Sipho I think he had made the right decision because in some very important moments last season he was, especially the first part of the season, which a lot of people will tell you is that’s when you don’t win the league, but that’s when you can lose the league,” he continued.

“And some of the games that Sipho played in the earlier parts of the season were so important, and the results were so important to help Orlando Pirates not lose the league and to stay in the championship, and up until the end. And I think he had made the right decision.”