As the Buccaneers prepare to face Mamelodi Sundowns at the FNB Stadium on Sunday (15:30), Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro sounded like he is someone who is on his way out of the club at the end of the season.

Since the Spanish tactician joined the Buccaneers in June 2022 on a contract that ends in June, Pirates have won five trophies under his guidance. However, it does appear that he won’t be at the club as it has been too much for him without his family in South Africa.

No one can begrudge him as Riveiro has consistently delivered trophies – two Nedbank Cup and three MTN 8 Cup trophies and he is now aiming for his first league title with the Buccaneers. 

On Sunday afternoon, Riveiro will attempt to stop log leaders Sundowns, having made history in the South African football this season by winning three MTN 8 Cups in a row.

“It’s been a rough time with our fans, players and us as coaches as well because we are the different types of animals,” Riveiro said. 

“This is what we like: we love to laugh, we love to compete, face challenges, and we know that our professions are going beyond the time we spent together here on the field, for us as technical staff and players as well. 

“In my position, if you want to improve the team, you want to analyse the game, you want to learn, you want to continue to study, the game is an endless story and you will never finish it. There’s no time for us where we say we know everything now, we are learning each day and we’ll never stop. 

 “We are playing for a big club, for a lot of people, of which they are more than a million. It’s our responsibility to influence people’s lives positively, then the complexity of the game will never allow you to say for now in my career I can apply what I know, no. 

 “I think this is a constant opportunity to learn and do new things, sometimes taking the risk and sometimes doing what other people are doing well.” 

As the contract of Riveiro is set to expire at the end of this season, the 2024 September/October coach of the month added that this current club of the Buccaneers has made its history. 

“The first of all my players: knowing what they are capable of doing, knowing how they are willing to compete, how hungry they are and our capacity as well as the technical staff is to try to help them achieve what they want to achieve,” he added. 

“So, there’s nothing around us that can make me feel not do anything positive. If you have to look at our performance so far this season, I think we are part of the best teams in the history of Pirates. 

“It’s about you if you want to look in the same direction with the same perspective. But we look at our situation right now and it’s something that nobody can discuss, the numbers are there and the performances are there.”

Pic courtesy of Andile Xakaza/Inja Ka MoyaSnaps