Orlando Pirates Legend Steve Lekoelea Comments on the Buccaneers Hiring José Riveiro As New Head Coach

Orlando Pirates Legend Steve Lekoelea Comments on the Buccaneers Hiring José Riveiro As New Head Coach

Byron Pillay
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:05 PM
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  • Orlando Pirates legend Steve Lekoelea has weighed in on the Buccaneers' appointment of a new coach
  • Spain's José Riveiro was unveiled as the new head coach of Orlando Pirates on a three-year contract
  • Steve Lekoelea believes that Orlando Pirates should have hired a local coach who understands the club's culture

There is still a mixed bag of emotions regarding José Riveiro’s appointment at Orlando Pirates.

The Spanish coach was unveiled by the club yesterday as the man to lead the Buccaneers for the next three years.

Steve Lekoelea, José Riveiro, Sport, Soccer, South Africa, Orlando Pirates, Buccaneers, Premier Soccer League, DStv Premiership, Mandla Ncikazi
Orlando Pirates legend Steve Lekoelea has shared his thoughts on the hiring of José Riveiro as the Buccaneers' new head coach. Image: @Soccer_Laduma/ @soccerzela
Source: Twitter

Riveiro has never coached in Africa before and his only experience as a first-team coach is from his stint in Finland since 2014.

His last job was as head coach of Finnish side FC Inter Turku. His assistant coach Sergio Almenara and fitness trainer Miguel Bellver Esteve have also made the move to Pirates. were part of his backroom staff.

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While some are eager to see what he can do in South Africa, others are sceptical. Former Orlando Pirates star, Steve Lekoelea, also had his doubt about the new coach.

AS reported by Goal.com, Lekoelea said that Pirates needed to hire a coach who understood the club and how it plays.

"We need a coach that will understand the structure and culture of the club,"Lekoelea said.
"Orlando Pirates is a team that likes to attack. We have lost it in the past with European coaches that didn't understand the club and South African players," he added.

The debate over local versus foreign coaches in the Premier Soccer League is not a new one. Pitso Mosimane has long advocated for local coaches to be employed at PSL sides. The debate is now spreading to the nation team as well.

Orlando Pirates announce new head coach for the upcoming season, appoint Spanish coach José Riveiro

Orlando Pirates have finally announced their new head coach for the upcoming season.

After parting ways with co-coach, Fadlu Davids, the club officially welcomed José Riveiro as the new head coach of the Buccaneers on a three-year deal.

The Spanish-born coach exclaimed that he is delighted to join the Soweto club and is looking forward to the challenge.

Orlando Pirates are said to be looking at Mamelodi Sundowns' Steve Komphela as the search for a head coach continues

A report has emerged that Orlando Pirates are considering current Mamelodi Sundowns co-coach Steve Khompela as a possible future head coach.

This would widen the field of candidates to Benni McCarthy, Pitso Mosimane, Dan Malesela, Cavin Johnson, Gavin Hunt and Spaniard Pablo Franco Martin.

Earlier this month, the club parted ways with Fadlu Davids. However, the possibility of Komphela reuniting with Mandla Ncikazi could be prevented due to Sundowns’ buy-out clause on the coach’s contract.

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Byron Pillay
Byron Pillay is a sports writer and Head of the Department at Sports Brief (joined in 2022) with over 10 years of experience in community journalism and a degree in journalism from Caxton's Cadet School.
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DStv PremiershipSouth Africa