Maphangule happy to be reunited with Mokwena
On-loan Chippa United midfielder Meshack Maphangule has no reservations about reuniting with coach Rulani Mokwena after things did not work out for either of them at Orlando Pirates, he says.
Maphangule worked with Mokwena at Pirates under the previous coaching regime when Serbian Milutin Sredojevic was the head coach.
The 28-year-old got little game-time at Pirates under Mokwena and Sredojevic but despite this, he has no hard feelings towards the Chippa coach.
“Rulani is a good coach who is experienced and has a lot to contribute to SA football.
“We know each other very well and I know what he expects from a player,” Maphangule said.
“Everything was going well before the lockdown and the players were looking forward to implementing his tactics.
“When it was announced that he was the new coach I didn’t have a problem with it.
We get along very well so I was looking forward to working with him again.”
Before games were suspended the Chilli Boys played one match under Mokwena, a goalless draw with Bidvest Wits.
The Port Elizabeth-based club are 12th on the Absa Premiership log with 26 points from 24 games.
“I think we can make it into the top eight.
“We are only five points outside the top half and in the remaining games I think we can do it,” he said.
Maphangule will make a return to Pirates at the end of the season when his loan deal expires.
He will return to a different Bucs team under coach Josef Zinnbauer, whom he is looking forward to working with.
“All I know at the moment is that I will be returning to Pirates for the preseason.
“From there, we will see what happens.
“I have heard good things about the new coach [Zinnbauer] and I look forward to working with him. ”—