Ex-Orlando Pirates Winger Concerned About Timing of Riveiro’s Exit Announcement

A former Orlando Pirates winger has expressed concerns that the timing of Jose Riveiro’s exit announcement could negatively impact the team in the final weeks of the season.

Pirates officially announced on Thursday that Riveiro would not be staying on when his contract expires in June. This came as a big shock to many who were hoping the Spaniard would extend his tenure after the impressive work he has done with the Soweto giants.

The Buccaneers, who have already secured the MTN8 title, remain in contention for three more trophies this season—the Betway Premiership, Nedbank Cup, and CAF Champions League. While this is an exciting period for the club, former Pirates winger Bennett Chenene has raised concerns over the timing of the announcement.

“To be honest, I am shocked. The guy is doing well. He is winning games. He is doing well in Africa, he wins cups, and he is number two in the league. I did not expect it,” Chenene told Soccer Laduma.

“It’s a bit of a problem. It’s not good for Pirates. When you get a new coach, he is going to come in and bring new players and make changes. This thing of changing coaches while the current one is doing well is not good. Let’s hope for the best. And the fact that they announced it now before the season ends is not a good thing in my opinion. I think it can disturb the team, but let’s see how it goes.”

Following the announcement, Pirates players must quickly shift their focus to Saturday’s crucial Premiership match against Polokwane City. They cannot afford to drop points, especially as they are already 15 points behind league leaders Mamelodi Sundowns.

While Chenene fears that the announcement could disrupt the players, they still have the opportunity to ensure Riveiro’s tenure ends on a high note by pushing for silverware in the remaining competitions of the season.