Orlando Pirates would have gone into decline had Jose Riveiro stayed, says ex-captain
Riveiro was tired: Former Orlando Pirates captain Innocent Maela says Jose Riveiro's departure from the club came at the right time. Photo: Ayanda Ndamane/Independent Newspapers
Image: Ayanda Ndamane/Independent Newspapers
Former Orlando Pirates captain Innocent Maela has claimed that the timing of Jose Riveiro’s departure was good for the club.
Riveiro spent three seasons with the Ezimnyama ngenkani, guiding the club to three MTN8 titles and two Nedbank Cups, and becoming a fan favourite. However, towards the end of last season, he announced he would be leaving at the conclusion of the 2024/25 Betway Premiership.
The news was not well received by supporters, while a number of the club’s players attempted to change his mind.
However, according to ex-skipper Maela, the cracks were starting to appear, and Riveiro’s exit came at the perfect time.
“He (Riveiro) felt like he needed a new challenge somewhere else. He felt like he had already exhausted all his energy in the team,” Maela said on the Lemii LoCo On Sports YouTube channel.
“… You could see that he was tired. For me personally, if he had continued, I think the club would have gone backwards in the league. You could just tell he was really tired. I think he needed a break for a year and to come back with renewed energy.
“But I don’t think him staying would have been good for the team, in my opinion, because I worked with him and saw him every day,” said Maela, who called time on his career at just 32 last season.
“I know the public were saying, ‘Give him two more years,’ but I don’t think he had it in him, because the coach demands a lot and it’s not easy.”
After leaving Pirates, Riveiro was almost immediately announced as the new head coach of Egyptian giants Al Ahly. Unfortunately, his time in Egypt was not a happy one, and he was given the boot after a disastrous start to the season.
Pirates, on the other hand, have gone from strength to strength under Moroccan Abdeslam Ouaddou and are considered genuine contenders for the Betway Premiership title after a good run of form.
IOL Sport