Three coaches who could replace Riveiro at Pirates

Orlando Pirates announced on Monday that Jose Riveiro will be leaving the club immediately after Tuesday evening’s Betway Premiership match at home to Golden Arrows.

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The club had already agreed to part ways with Riveiro when his contract runs out at the end of this season. But now they have brought his departure forward, with a move to Egyptian giants Al Ahly reportedly imminent.

Pirates are unlikely to announce Riveiro’s replacement before the end of the current campaign. But there are a few candidates who would surely fit the bill.

Phakaaathi takes a look at three coaches who might take over the Buccaneers hot seat.

Pirates’ coaching candidates

Rulani Mokwena

Rulani Mokwena looks an obvious candidate to take up the reins at Pirates, having just parted ways with Wydad Casablanca after less than a season in charge.

Mokwena’s slightly fractious time at Wydad should in no way affect his suitability for the Pirates jobs. The young South African left Sundowns with a sterling reputation in the Premier Soccer League.

He did also have a less successful spell at Pirates as interim head coach in 2019. But Mokwena has added a wealth of experience since. If Pirates are looking for a local coach to take them that step further and win the Betway Premiership and the Champions League, Mokwena might just be that man.

Mokwena’s salary demands, however, may prove an obstacle.

Pitso Mosimane

Mosimane has not coached in South Africa since he left Sundowns in 2020 to join Al Ahly. But he remains a strong candidate, with a glittering CV. And ‘Jingles’ is currently a free agent and back in South Africa after leaving his latest post in the Middle East at the start of this year.

Mosimane, like Mokwena is unlikley to come cheap and that could again prove a problem.

But it could well be a tempting challenge for Mosimane to finally take up the reins at one of the Soweto giants.

Gavin Hunt

Another coach who is out of a job after being fired by SuperSport earlier this year, Gavin Hunt is likely to come cheaper for Pirates than either Mosimane or Mokwena.

That may not have been the case a few years back, when he was at his pomp with SuperSport and Bidvest Wits. But after unsuccessful stints at Chiefs, Chippa United, and SuperSport, it is fair to say Hunt’s reputation has dwindled.

He remains much loved by players but are some of his coaching techniques now a bit dated in the modern game? That is a question Pirates will have to ask themselves if they are looking to hire the 60 year old four-time Premiership winner.

Or could it be …

Another ‘unknown’ foreign soldier?

Orlando Pirates have developed a habit of ditching so-called big names and bringing in a candidate from overseas that not many have ever heard of.

This has certainly been the case with their last two foreign coaches, the German Josef Zinnbauer and Spaniard Jose Riveiro. Zinnbauer’s success at Pirates was limited but Riveiro has transformed the Buccaneers into a serious competitive force.

He came to Pirates after a spell at Inter Turku in Iceland, with no experience on the African continent. And the ‘Spanish Guitar’ played a trophy-laden tune.

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Perhaps Pirates will bring someone else in from out of the blue to replace Riveiro.