Pirates Confirm Riveiro’s Departure After Arrows Clash

Orlando Pirates has confirmed that coach Jose Riveiro will take charge of his final match when the team hosts Golden Arrows in the Betwa Premiership on Tuesday evening.

The club has granted Riveiro an early release from his contract, which was originally scheduled to conclude at the end of June 2025.

The news comes on the heels of losing to Kaizer Chiefs in the Nedbank Cup final at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday.

Chairman Dr. Irvin Khoza stated, “Jose approached us a few weeks ago with a request to be released from his contract ahead of schedule, having signed with a new club.

“Given the timing; amidst a series of crucial fixtures – we believed it was best to delay this announcement until after the Nedbank Cup Final. His contribution since joining the Club has been immense. We learned a lot from him, and he learned a lot from us.

“While we would have preferred to formally honour him with a proper send-off, we fully respect his decision to depart before the end of his tenure.”

Coach Riveiro departs having established a legacy of excellence, etching his name in the club’s history books with an impressive coaching record and numerous trophies.

“I want to express my sincere appreciation to Orlando Pirates for allowing me the opportunity to leave before the end of my contract. As someone who has never found goodbyes easy, this moment is particularly emotional for me,” said Riveiro in a statement.

“I am deeply grateful to everyone at the Club – from management and technical staff to the players and the many individuals behind the scenes who work tirelessly to support the team.

“To the players, thank you for believing in the journey we shared and for giving everything on the pitch. And to the supporters. When I first arrived, I challenged you to come out in your numbers and rally behind your team. You did that, and more. You turned every match into a moment to remember, and your passion is something I will carry with me forever.

“Thank you for allowing me to be part of this great club’s story.”

Mandla Ncikazi, who is the club’s assistant coach, is set to be in charge of four matches after the Arrows game.

“As this chapter concludes, we encourage the Ghost to come out in force to the Orlando Stadium on Tuesday night for our Betway Premiership match against Golden Arrows to bid farewell to our Spanish Guitar,” said the club.

“The remaining matches of the season will be under the guidance of assistant coach Mandla Ncikazi, who will serve as interim head coach. He will be supported by Head Performance Analyst Rayaan Jacobs and the rest of the Club’s technical and support staff.”