Orlando Pirates Chairman Irvin Khoza Responds Harshly to Critics of Jose Riveiro's Appointment as Coach

• Orlando Pirates chairman Irvin Khoza has responded with disdain to the critics of the club's new coaching appointment Jose Riveiro
• The 44-year-old Spaniard was announced as the Buccaneers' new coach last weekend to much derision and skepticism
• Khoza, also the chairman of the Premier Soccer League, had some rather harsh words for those who mocked Riveiro as a plumber

Orlando Pirates chairman Irvin Khoza had choice words for those who scoffed at the appointment of little-known Spanish coach Jose Riveiro.

The 44-year-old Riveiro was unveiled last weekend to howls of criticism, with some sections of the South African football fraternity referring to him as a "plumber", the negative epithet used to describe coaches from overseas who don't have a large footprint in the media.

Responding to this, Khoza said according to Sunday World:

“I am humbled because one social media activist in the Twittersphere did not take to rhetoric to talk about a plumber because that is insulting and demeaning. He spoke to journalists from the (coach’s home) country and he did not come back with words such as a plumber.

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"It helps to have a meaningful debate – people just want to insult and they do not bring solutions to the table.”

Leroy Maluka, who once played in Finland where Riveiro was recruited from, encouraged him to shut out the noise and get on with his job, according to IOL.

Maluka said:

“He’s a very good coach. I think he is someone who is going to bring a lot to South African football but as to what style he prefers I will leave that to him to talk about. I enjoyed working with him in Finland and I know the two guys he is bringing with him as staff very well,”

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Judging by what is said about his coaching style, Orlando Pirates fans have a lot to be excited about regarding their team's new coach Jose Riveiro.

As reported by Sports Brief, his announcement was met with skepticism and hesitance because of his lack of name recognition, having been a coach in the Finnish league at FC Inter Turku.

Finnish football journalist Mikko Knuuttila said on SAFM that he expects Pirates could play like Manchester City in terms of tactics and formation.