The departure of Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro seems to be affecting the players, both on and off the field.
Since Riveiro announced his exit in April, the Buccaneers have experienced a mix of results. The team failed to secure the league title, lost out in the Nedbank Cup, and were eliminated from the CAF Champions League.
Riveiro’s final match in charge ended in a convincing 3-0 win, but the team’s performance this past weekend was less inspiring, as they could only manage a 1-1 draw against TS Galaxy. Fans have begun to question whether Pirates will still be as formidable without Riveiro at the helm.
Kaizer Chiefs’ Bobby Motaung has even predicted a rough season ahead for Pirates, suggesting they will struggle next year.
“Did you hear the Pirates coach is leaving? They will be average next season. We are not changing our coach. Stuart Baxter did the same thing. He won for three seasons, and once he saw his profile improve, what did he do? Things like that happen,” Motaung said.
Interim coach Mandla Ncikazi was asked after the TS Galaxy draw if Riveiro’s departure had an impact on the players. Ncikazi reflected on the situation, admitting the players could be affected, but he couldn’t say for certain.
“After this result, your mind starts to wonder a lot. What could have happened? But I can’t say for sure. It could be the case, but I can’t be sure. The coach [Riveiro] did have a big impact on the club. I thought the players would use this game as a way to celebrate his success, but how people respond to disappointments and events is different. Unfortunately, I can’t measure that, but it could be a possibility.”
With three more league matches left this season, it remains to be seen whether the players can rise to the occasion and finish strong.
