Jose Riveiro's Orlando Pirates future uncertain The has been much speculation in recent weeks about Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro's future as his contract runs up at the end of the season. Photo: Itumeleng English Independent Media
Image: Itumeleng English Independent Media
Orlando Pirates captain Thapelo Xoki and Deon Hotto have urged head coach Jose Riveiro to renew his contract and extend his stay with the Soweto giants.
The Spaniard’s contract is up at the end of the season, and his utterances – or lack thereof – in the media have suggested he could be toying with the idea of leaving the club for a fresh start.
However, Xoki and Hotto, who have played a key role in helping the club to win back-to-back cup doubles under Riveiro, want him to stay on and help Ezimnyama ngenkani ezikaMagebhula go a step further and win the Betway Premiership title.
"We've built a strong powerhouse in terms of the team that we have assembled over the last three years, and it won't sit well with many of us for him to leave and it will unsettle a lot of things. I hope he doesn't leave," skipper Xoki said when speaking on the fly-on-the-wall BucsCamp documentary.
However, despite the talk around Riveiro’s future, Hotto said the speculation was not something that was holding the team back as they look to reignite their title challenge against perennial champions Mamelodi Sundowns.
"To be honest and sincere, it's not something that is hindering us at the moment because our main focus is all about us achieving what we wanted to achieve at the start of the season," said the big Namibian.
Mandla Ncikazi, Riveiro’s assistant coach, took a more philosophical route, saying that the head coach will leave the club at some point.
"Whether the coach leaves or stays at the end of the current season is anybody's guess at the moment," said Ncikazi.
“Working in football is like checking in at a hotel. Others stay for one day, others stay for two days, others stay for a month – but at the end, we all check out! I do have my personal wishes, if the project works so well, why should it be spoilt? But let's keep the hopes high and also trust the vision of our management that they will always take the right decision."
Currently jobless Pitso Mosimane’s name has been thrown into the hat as a possible successor should Riveiro decide to end his tenure.
IOL Sport
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