In a shocking change of events, Jose Riveiro has announced that he is to leave his position as head coach of the Orlando Pirates when the current season ends in May, when his contract expires.
Given that the Buccaneers are juggling many significant local and continental contests, there are concerns regarding the timing of the Pirates’ public revelation of Riveiro’s intentions on Thursday afternoon.
The announcement’s timing is very notable.
Every game has a lot of weight as the Pirates reach a hectic phase of the season.
There will undoubtedly be conjecture about whether the announcement will inspire the team or provide disruptions. Over the following few weeks, the club will play a number of crucial games.
As the news rocked the football community, Riveiro expressed his emotions to Pirates’ website on Thursday.
“We play Polokwane City on Saturday, and that is my first priority right now. It’s a challenging match. “A match that requires our full attention and focus,” Riveiro stated.
There will come a day when I can share my thoughts on the choice I made, but for now, we have work to do.
“There is still more work to be done until the end of May, so the season is far from over.
“Obviously, it would have been ideal to wait until the end of the season to make any announcements, but that isn’t feasible.
“The club should have time to plan for its future, as it is imperative that they do so.”Irvin Khoza, the chairman of the Pirates, stated that Riveiro made the decision on Thursday because he believed the team needed more time to locate a replacement.
“We completely appreciate Jose’s decision, even though we would have preferred that he stay longer. Khoza remarked, “We appreciate everything he has done for the club.
The accomplishments of the years that have passed speak for themselves. We shall always remember the joy that Jose and his support team have brought to this club.
“The club will have two top priorities right now. First and foremost, in accordance with his desires, we will determine the best moment to properly thank Jose for his service to the team.
But secondly, before the 2025–2026 season starts, the football department should start the drawn-out process of recruiting a qualified replacement.
“We completely respect Jose’s choice and value the three years of work he has provided to this organization.
“He needs to know that the Orlando Pirates family will always be there for him, no matter where his journey takes him.”
— April 3, 2025, Orlando Pirates (@orlandopirates) “He has given the Pirates supporters more than just victories; he gave them a reason to dream again,” was part of an early tribute to the 47-year-old Riveiro posted on the Pirates website.
And now that the season is almost over, the fact that this amazing chapter is coming to an end also becomes more palpable.
However, the tale is not yet over. Games to play, memories to create, and moments to treasure are still ahead of us.Pirates arrived in Johannesburg on Thursday morning following their match against MC Alger in the first leg of the CAF Champions League quarterfinal in Algiers on Tuesday.
They then went to Limpopo to get ready for their Premiership matchup with Polokwane, which is scheduled for this Saturday at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium (3pm kickoff).
Next Wednesday, at 6 p.m., they will host Alger in the rematch at Orlando Stadium.
