
Orlando Pirates news: Rulani and Hotto
After three Nedbank Cups and two MTN8 trophies in three seasons, former coach Jose Riveiro left the Buccaneers for Al Ahly before the end of last season. We are two months away from the start of the 2025/26 Betway Premiership season. Orlando Pirates have yet to name the next coach but are only linked with names like Rulani Mokwena.
The former Mamelodi Sundowns and Wydad Casablanca coach was asked if he would consider rejoining the mighty Orlando Pirates.
Kaizer Chiefs to profile 17 players abroad
'Of course I would consider it [joining Orlando Pirates], of course I would,' Mokwena said live on DStv's Soccer Africa after he was asked about the prospect… Full story here.
Orlando Pirates' leadership has been sorted ahead of next season's Betway Premiership and CAF Champions League terms.
While the club has released fellow veterans Miguel Timm and Innocent Maela, Deon Hotto, 34, is staying put.
According to Kick Off, Hotto is set to put pen to paper on a new deal for next season… Full story here.
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1
Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

IOL News
23 minutes ago
- IOL News
AmaZulu's pre-season shake-up raises questions ahead of MTN8
AmaZulu coach Arthur Zwane and assistant Siboniso Vilakazi have a tough task to keep the club competitive during the opening rounds of the upcoming season. Photo: BackpagePix Image: Bacpagepix AmaZulu's technical team are grappling with growing concerns over a lack of squad depth and experience as they prepare for a testing MTN8 quarter-final showdown against Stellenbosch FC on Sunday. Having finished sixth last season, Usuthu earned a place in the lucrative Top 8 competition — but as the 2025/26 campaign kicks off, head coach Arthur Zwane is still piecing together a squad capable of challenging on all fronts, including the push for CAF qualification. The Durban-based side released a staggering 17 players at the end of last season, triggering a major squad overhaul that has left gaps across key positions. Long-serving figures such as Veli Mothwa, Ramahlwe Mphahlele, Mbongeni Gumede, and Rowan Human were among those shown the exit door. With just days to go before their clash against Stellies, only a handful of new faces have been seen in AmaZulu colours, including defender Keagan Allen, goalkeeper Darren Johnson, and striker Ryan Moon — all of whom featured during the KZN Premier's Cup this past weekend. However, more arrivals are expected before the close of the transfer window. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Assistant coach Siboniso Vilakazi admitted that the team is still far from settled and that the loss of experience has been deeply felt during pre-season. 'When you look at the second team against Durban City, it tells you that we don't have depth because it was a completely new team,' said Vilakazi, after their semi-final exit in the KZN Premier's Cup. 'We have players that we are trying to reinforce with who have experience at the highest level and some who are coming back from loans and those from our youth systems.' Vilakazi was encouraged by the performances of some of the younger players but warned that youth alone won't be enough to carry the team through a demanding season. 'So, we are not starting from scratch,' he added. 'But after this tournament, even though we are happy with the performance of the youngsters, we know the depth is not there as yet.' Usuthu's situation is made more urgent by the timing of the MTN8. The clash against a settled and well-drilled Stellenbosch side, who themselves are eyeing silverware this season, will offer a stern test of just how ready Zwane's side really is. The club's recruitment strategy is expected to remain aggressive over the coming weeks, with emphasis on bringing in players who offer leadership and experience, particularly in defence and midfield. For now, Zwane and his staff are walking a tightrope — balancing long-term rebuilding with the short-term pressure of performing in a knockout competition. And as the countdown to Sunday begins, AmaZulu's depth and cohesion will face their first real examination.

IOL News
an hour ago
- IOL News
Kaizer Chiefs' Nabi hits back at pre-season criticism
Kaizer Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi is preparing the club for their opening Betway Premiership clash next weekend when they face Stellenbosch. Photo: Backpagepix Image: Backpagepix Kaizer Chiefs head coach Nasreddine Nabi remains calm despite his side's underwhelming pre-season campaign, insisting that friendly matches are strictly for preparation and not a cause for panic. Amakhosi lost 3-2 on penalties to Ghanaian giants Asante Kotoko in the second edition of the Toyota Cup on Saturday at Moses Mabhida Stadium — a result that left many questioning the Soweto giants' readiness for the new season. Chiefs have won just once in six pre-season outings, a run that includes a tough four-game tour of The Netherlands. But ahead of their Betway Premiership opener against Stellenbosch FC on August 10, Nabi maintains the results are irrelevant at this stage. 'We are in pre-season, and the objectives of this pre-season are detailed and pre-determined,' Nabi said when asked about the worrying results. 'The objective of this game is not the result. I understand why you are asking the question, but the objective of this friendly was not the result on the scoreboard.' Another concern for Amakhosi fans is the team's poor goal return. In six matches, Chiefs have only found the net three times — an issue that's prompted concerns about the effectiveness of their attacking setup heading into the new campaign. This has been a cloud that has hovered over Chiefs since last season having been in the top three of highest chances created in the league but failed to make them count. But the Tunisian coach was quick to put things into context, particularly when reflecting on their European tour. 'In The Netherlands, we weren't given much time between the games, and we also played against four clubs from that country's premier division,' he said. 'This is pre-season, so we are still finding our way and preparing for the season, and results after 90 minutes do not matter for now.' The former Young Africans mentor believes the team is showing clear signs of growth, especially when compared to last year's squad that also took part in the Toyota Cup — a fixture Chiefs are using to reintroduce themselves to continental-style opponents ahead of their CAF return. 'This is the second Toyota Cup we have participated in, and compared to last year's match against Young Africans, our team has improved a lot,' said Nabi. 'There may be a few areas of weakness and where we need to work on, but there has been progress. Of course, we would have loved to win this friendly, but I believe we are heading in the right direction.' Nabi has now used the bulk of his squad over the pre-season and feels that while some issues still need ironing out, the foundation has been laid for a competitive 2025/26 campaign. The Toyota Cup once again served its purpose — not just as a test against continental competition, but as a platform to give Nabi a clearer sense of the tools at his disposal. And with the real business kicking off against Stellies, Chiefs will be hoping that preparation now translates into performance.

IOL News
an hour ago
- IOL News
Durban City's Gavin Hunt concerned over loss of identity in SA football
Veteran coach Gavin Hunt will guide Durban City from the technical area in their debut season of the Betway Premiership. Photo: Backpagepix Image: Backpagepix Durban City head coach Gavin Hunt has expressed deep concern over the continued erasure of South African football's identity, following yet another major club sale — this time involving his former side, SuperSport United, now renamed Siwelele FC. Hunt, one of the most successful coaches in the local game, guided SuperSport to three consecutive league titles between 2008 and 2010 and is credited with nurturing a generation of top-flight talent during his time at the Tshwane-based outfit. Fix Football #LetsFixSAFootball Image: Independent Media The sale and rebranding of the club is personal for the veteran mentor — and symptomatic, he believes, of a wider issue plaguing the game. 'Club names should not change, that's the first thing I think is important,' Hunt said. 'If people buy clubs, then they should stay in the city the club is from and carry on from there.' This latest move follows a familiar pattern in South African football — Bidvest Wits, another of Hunt's former clubs and the 2016/17 league champions under his leadership, was also sold and dissolved in 2020, cutting ties with a century-long footballing heritage. 'You cannot build a support base, a stadium or training facilities if you're constantly uprooting clubs,' he added. 'So, if you buy a club, leave it where it is and keep the name so we won't have this [loss of history].' Hunt drew parallels with European giants, where foreign ownership rarely results in such radical overhauls. 'When the (Emirati owners or Saudi owners) buy Manchester City or the Americans buy Manchester United and Liverpool, they remain who they are,' he explained. There's no identities being lost — but we've lost our identity in South African football.' The coach warned that this constant shifting is making it harder for fans to connect with teams, particularly when clubs are moved to entirely different provinces or communities. 'People can't align themselves with these clubs because there's no identity and it's very sad to witness,' he said. Currently leading Durban City in the Betway First Division, Hunt is once again at the helm of a club with historic roots. And as someone who has spent decades shaping the local football narrative, he believes the game must return to prioritising long-term vision over short-term deals. While club sales may sometimes be necessary for financial survival, Hunt argues that preserving legacy, geography, and identity should never be compromised. Because for Hunt, football is more than just 90 minutes on a pitch — it's about building something that lives on for generations.