Orlando Pirates are in the process of reshuffling their technical staff ahead of the 2024/25 season with big plans insight.
Coach Jose Riveiro has had a stable technical team around him for the best part of two seasons at Pirates.
Riveiro brought his Spanish compatriot Sergio Almenara as a person he trust. He then kept Mandla Ncikazi as someone who knows Pirates and South African football. Together the trio made a formidable team, winning four trophies in the two seasons they spent together. At the end of the previous season, however, Almenara left Pirates. This while Ncikazi proved his commitment to the cause, this was through signing a new deal at the club.
Now according to Soccer-Laduma, he could soon be joined by his head coach Riveiro in signing a new Pirates deal.
“They want to secure Jose’s (Riveiro) services before it’s too late. They don’t want the same scenario like the one which happened with Ruud Krool that he didn’t renew his contract. This after winning the treble (in the season before he left). I can’t say it’s a done deal yet as the coach is currently on holiday but the club has offered him another three years and he is happy at the club as well. So, I don’t know what will stop this proposal or offer on the table,” said once source on the prospect of a new long-term Pirates deal.
Another source confirms that the new Pirates deal would come with terms and conditions for Riveiro.
“It’s not necessarily next season or the following one. No. But they would like him (Riveiro) to guide the team to at least one league title in the next three years. It’s a mandate they have apparently included in the new proposal and the coach also wants to win the league title before he leaves Pirates. So it’s a mutual understanding and that’s why it gives hope that the new deal would be sealed,” said the second source.
It’s clear Pirates are backing Riveiro as their man. They then want to equip him with the best tools both on and off to win a possible league title.
