Former Orlando Pirates coach Rhulani Mokwena is ready to ‘embrace’ the new chapter in his career after returning to Mamelodi Sundowns.

The 33-year-old reunites with the Brazilians after three years, having spent two seasons as assistant coach to then Pirates coach Milutin Sredojevc before being loaned to Chippa, where he spent four months as head coach.

However, his time with the Chilli Boys was short-lived and he decided to part ways with the club when his contract expired on 30 June.

Rhulani is excited to be back at Sundowns after receiving a warm welcome upon his return to Chloorkop.

‘It was fantastic. A warm welcome; the coaches welcomed me very well, the sessions were very well organised, the players gave me the normal amount of respect that they gave me before I left,’ Mokwena told the Sundowns media team.

‘Of course, seeing a lot of very familiar faces like Hlompho Kekana, Denis Onyango, Themba Zwane, Kennedy Mweene, it is always exciting because most of these players that are at Sundowns are people that I have got very good relations with.

‘I left Mamelodi Sundowns knowing that they are not just players that I know, but they are family and they know that in me that they have got a family member for life because of the good relationship that we had and I am glad that when I left Sundowns, I could easily consider myself a good person and I would like to still consider myself a good person when I return.

‘I think that for me, it has allowed me to really embrace this opportunity that I have been given,’ he added.