José Riveiro will leave Orlando Pirates with the sting of their recent Nedbank Cup final defeat still fresh, after the club confirmed his early release from coaching duties.
His premature departure will only add to the hurt for The Ghost, who have come to adore the Spanish tactician, but are still coming to terms with their defeat to rivals Kaizer Chiefs this past Saturday. Riveiro’s final match in charge of the Sea Robbers will be against Golden Arrows on Tuesday in a Betway Premiership tie.
Pirates’ fans are expected to be an emotional bunch on the night (kick-off 7.30pm), almost as visibly emotional as their coach was after Saturday’s defeat. Then, Riveiro offered a brutally honest account of how much every loss affects the club:
“Each and every game that we lose – if you ask me or the players – it feels the same. Every game is an opportunity to beat someone, and when you don’t, and you’re competitive, you don’t sleep.”
Chiefs ended their nearly decade-long trophy drought by edging the Buccaneers in Durban, thanks to goals from Gastón Sirino and Yusuf Maart. Despite being favourites heading into the tie, Pirates couldn’t convert their recent dominance into another piece of silverware.
Riveiro, however, refused to dwell on any single result, instead placing all three recent defeats into one emotional bracket.
We should have done what Kaizer Chiefs done to Hunt. Release him now why wait until Tuesday. The man has signed with another club while contracted to us he should have been released immediately when he notified us that he’s not renewing his contract. The only lesson to tak is…
— WE REMAIN HUMBLE ☠️ (@ka_madesi) May 12, 2025
“I understand it was a big game – it’s a cup final – but we go again. On Tuesday, we are tested again in the league. This is football. And losing a final, it is also a chance to understand just how difficult it is to win them.”
“This group played five finals in a row. That’s something exceptional. That’s something we have to give value to,” he said.
“I can’t tell you which one is more painful. The pain is the same. Because your illusion, your motivation, your expectation, and how you imagine your day will end – it changes completely.”
In a surprising development on Monday, the Soweto giants officially confirmed the early departure of Riveiro, who was originally set to step down at the end of June 2025. The club stated that the Spanish-born coach requested an early release from his contract after securing a position with a new club.
It is understood Riveiro will depart for Egyptian giants Zamalek.
Let’s pack Orlando Stadium tomorrow for El Padre’s last ever game with the Club against Golden Arrows.
The man restored pride and respect to this Orlando Pirates team. The last few weeks don’t change anything. Respect to Jose Riveiro. Always.
He deserves a great send off. pic.twitter.com/I8J9QmyFFC
— Joseph Bertrand (@JoBertrand19) May 12, 2025
Reflecting on his tenure at Pirates, Riveiro acknowledged the emotional toll of the recent defeats but emphasised the importance of resilience.
“Sorry to our players, to our fans, it’s one more final. We could not make it this time, but we will be back. There’s no last dance – there’s a game on Tuesday that we have to win.”
As Riveiro prepares for his final match, the Pirates community reflects on his contributions and the challenges ahead. His assistant coach will take over in the interim, as Pirates look to navigate four more games after facing Abafana Bes’thende.
The club’s place in next season’s CAF Champions League has already been confirmed following Stellenbosch’s loss to Mamelodi Sundowns on Sunday.
The emotional burden of recent weeks will weigh heavily on the shoulders of Mandla Ncikazi and his players, with nothing but pride left to play for – as well as adjusting to the departure of Riveiro.
