Orlando Pirates coach Josef Zinnbauer has explained the absence of assistant coach Rhulani Mokwena from the technical team bench against Bloemfontein Celtic over the weekend.

Mokwena was notably absent when the Buccaneers played out to a 1-1 draw with Celtic in their first Absa Premiership match of the year at the Dr Molemela Stadium on Saturday.

Assistant coach Fadlu Davids was the only assistant seen alongside the head coach on the bench, but Zinnbauer has since confirmed that Mokwena remains a part of the technical team but is on leave.

‘He is on leave,’ Zinnbauer told the media.

The Buccaneers are in sixth place in the league standings, with 21 points after 15 matches played so far this season.

Pirates will now turn their attention to their upcoming clash with Polokwane City in the Absa Premiership at the Peter Makaba Stadium on Tuesday, with kick-off set for 7:30pm.