Bucs assessing Riveiro’s progress
Supporters discuss Riveiro
Orlando Pirates head coach, Jose Riveiro, seems to be on the right track since joining the Houghton-based team before the start of the season. The Spanish mentor arrived amid mixed reactions, with local football supporters questioning the club’s wisdom in hiring an unknown coach with a Curriculum Vitae shorter than a doctor’s sick note, to take over from the co-coaching duo of Mandla Ncikazi and Fadlu Davids, who were given the reigns following the departure of Josef Zinnbauer after two years at the helm. With no African football experience, the cool-as-a-cucumber Spaniard has hit the ground running, winning the MTN8 to appease the hard-to-please Bucs supporters in his first season in charge. Almost halfway through the campaign, with the 2022 Qatar FIFA World Cup-enforced domestic football break, Riveiro’s charges are sitting fifth on the log, nine points adrift the log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns and look set to be among the teams to give the Chloorkop-based side stiff competition this campaign. Soccer Laduma editor Vuyani Joni spoke to some supporters, a legend and a former coach to get a feel of what they think of their new mentor and the progress he’s made so far.
You can see what he’s doing Dejan Miladinovic – Orlando Pirates supporter
“Look, so far, so good hey. The coach is doing his best and we are all happy about his progress so far. You saw how happy the supporters were even in the Carling Black Label Cup after beating Kaizer Chiefs, although we lost in the final against Mamelo di Sundowns. We were unlucky on the day as we also didn’t have enough time to rest, like Sundowns did. However, that can’t be an excuse, but like I said, most of our supporters are very happy with the coach. I mean, everyone can see that the team is going in the right direction. The coach is doing well and him beating Chiefs will always be a good thing for us, especially when we do it playing beautiful football. We also have a strong team, after the club signed some god and quality players before the start of the season. Yes, we can always improve, but I’m happy with the progress we’ve made under coach Jose and I don’t think anyone has a different feeling. I also don’t think anyone is interfering with the coach’s job because everyone can see that he’s free, without any unnecessary pressure. It will be interesting to see what the club does in the next transfer window period. The coach must just continue doing well for the team and know that we all love and support him. People expected him to win us games and silverware, so that’s exactly what he has been doing so far. It is very important for any coach to bring silverware to the club because it is pointless to play well but not win anything. Coach Jose has made sure that Pirates is not just another team in the elite league but a team that is challenging for honours. We want to win everything in front of us and we want our coach to continue doing well for the team. This man is leading our team in a perfect way and I think there is a lot that he is still going to win for us. His tactics are on another level and whenever he makes changes, you can clearly see what he is trying to do and the players understand him. Let’s give him a chance to do his thing.”
We can’t have that Phillip Jwarha – Orlando Pirates supporter
“As supporters, what we ex
pect from anyone coaching our team is silverware and playing good football. I think the coach has been able to do both. We always monitor a new coach and feel his impact when there are individual players who are excelling while the team is playing well. Once you get your players getting national team call-ups, then you know that your coach is doing something good. Also, when there are young players who are doing the job for the team, then you know the team is in good hands because the future is also taken into consideration. Players like (Monnapule) Saleng continue to shine and even get call-ups, Kermit Erasmus is back and he looks happy, which is very good for any team and it shows that the coach is on to something with his team. It shows that he believes in the team he has assembled and the players are responding well to him. Yes, there were people who doubted him, but I’m sure everyone can now see what the coach is all about. After winning the MTN8, I don’t think anyone can question the team’s decision to appoint coach Jose and the man has proved himself. Now that he’s brought silverware, we are happy and proud to be associated with Pirates and hope he is going to add another piece of silverware to our cabinet. As a supporter, nothing hurts more than your team underachieving for seasons on end. We laugh at one another whenever our teams are not doing well and it hurts. That’s just how football supporters are and we always put one another under pressure. Coach Jose and his technical team have managed to put a smile on our faces and we are happy. We are praying that when the league resumes, his players will come back with the same winning mentality and momentum that we had before we went to the break. What I want us to work on is dropping points against so-called small teams. I mean, we lost to Maritzburg United, Chippa United and Sekhukhune United. We can’t have that, the coach needs to improve on this one because that’s nine points gone and these teams owe us a lot in the second round. We are Happy People again, thanks to coach Jose!”
I have been impressed Diana “Lady D” Matli – Orlando Pirates supporter
“I believe the coach is going in the right direction because the team looks organised. I think we are cooking something solid here and the morale of the players is there for everyone to see. You can see the teamwork from the players and everyone in the technical area. I strongly believe the coach is doing something good with his players and technical team. I’m happy with the style of play and the improvements that I have noticed in the team. We were not converting enough of the chances we’ve been creating, but I think there is an improvement up front, although there’s still room for improvement. The guys are either scoring or creating for teammates, which is good and we have seen that with (Monnapule) Saleng and (Kermit) Erasmus, for instance. The players look free and happy on the field, which is very important for any team, and you can see that everyone is putting the team first. Defensively, we are organised and doing well, which is great. I have been impressed by the whole team’s collective improvement since the coach took over. We are playing beautiful and entertaining football, scoring goals and winning. I think that’s what stands
out for me about coach Jose because, for a long time, we struggled to maintain the balance between good football and winning football. We have improved a lot, we keep possession and use it much better. The more we play like this, the better our chances of winning trophies. Coach Riveiro is playing nice Spanish music with his guitar and our players are dancing to it. I can say they now understand his philosophy, style of play, his instructions and then go out there to execute the plan.”
“From the beginning, we didn’t see the direction where the coach was going. Things started shaping up as time went on and they went on to win the MTN8 and playing good football. It looks like there’s a direction now and I think it is only a matter of the coach being given a chance and all the support he needs, so that we can see where he is going to lead his team. So that we can see where he is going to finish his first season in charge of the team. I must admit, at the beginning, it wasn’t convincing at all, but looking at how he got the team to play so beautifully and got them organised before winning a trophy, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. The club must just give him time and support so that he can show us what he’s made of. Yes, a lot of people didn’t believe in the coach, but I always looked at him from a coach’s point of view. You always have to give someone a chance to show you what they can do, before judging them, and that’s what I believe in. As I said, at the beginning, we couldn’t see where the club was going, but it is now clear for everyone to see. I believe the coach needs everyone’s support because it is always great when the coach feels the love and support from everyone associated with the club, knowing that the management is fully behind him. That brings the best out of him and his best rubs off on the players, which benefits the team at the end of the day.”