Jose Riveiro is getting married
Assistant coach Ncikazi of the Orlando Pirates acknowledges that he had doubts about Riveiro leading the team.Last June, Riveiro was unexpectedly appointed head coach of the Buccaneers by the organization. In South Africa, no one knew who he was, and he had no trophy wins on his resume.
However, the Spaniard silenced his naysayers, who called him a “plumber,” by winning the MTN8 and the Nedbank Cup in his maiden assignment in Africa.
Ncikazi, who had served as the Pirates’ co-coach alongside Fadlu Davids the previous season, was relegated to assistant coach upon Riveiro’s hiring. Ncikazi acknowledges that he is unsure about Riveiro’s selection.
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WHAT NCIKAZI SAID: According to the iDiksi Times, Ncikazi stated, “To be honest with you, I was a bit confused because you don’t know these guys [Riveiro and his aide Sergio Almenara], you don’t know what they have and what sort of people they are.”
It’s true that when two individuals from various nations, particularly those in Europe, get together, they frequently have different perspectives on the same topics because of disparate cultures, geographical locations, and worldviews.
Fortunately, these men are skilled and knowledgeable about what they do—I won’t lie. However, in a new relationship, you have to spend time getting to know each other. Our marriage was never perfect from the start; there were always indications that we weren’t a good fit.
“However, it’s crucial that I accept newcomers, listen to them if you’re unhappy, and make sure that they have the same goals as the club members when it comes to their aims.
It’s evident that the club has noble goals. You will have to accept that they will make modifications if we don’t get the desired results. This is about the supporters across Africa, not about me or anyone else.
THE BIGGER PICTURE: In addition to winning two trophies, Riveiro led the Soweto giants back to the Caf Champions League during his first season as Pirates coach. He ended up being a candidate for Coach of the Season that season.
Riveiro is currently dealing with more difficult obstacles in Africa following a strong local campaign. It remains to be seen if he can improve in the Champions League, where Mamelodi Sundowns has had difficulty winning the championship in recent years.
FUTURE PLANS FOR RIVEIRO? After establishing a successful streak, the Spaniard is aware that more is expected of him and will now embark on the off-season holiday.
