When football fans were celebrating Orlando Pirates’ incredible run last season, few could have predicted the sudden slump that followed.
But Kaizer Chiefs football manager Bobby Motaung might have seen it coming when he forecasted a rough patch for the Buccaneers after their coach Jose Riveiro announced his departure.
Pirates’ Glittering 2024/25 Season
Orlando Pirates seemed unstoppable last season. They lifted the MTN8, flirted with a treble midseason, and went unbeaten in the CAF Champions League until the semi-finals.
Fans were dreaming of two or three trophies by the end of the campaign.
The Sea Robbers truly looked like a team to beat.
Riveiro’s Departure Shakes the Team
Everything changed in April when Jose Riveiro announced he would leave Pirates at the end of the season.
The announcement appeared to disrupt the squad’s momentum.
In just 40 days, the team lost the league, the CAF Champions League semi-final, and the Nedbank Cup final.
By the end of May, Riveiro had already joined Al Ahly, leaving Pirates to appoint former Marumo Gallants coach Abdeslam Ouaddou as his replacement.
New Coach, New Challenges
Ouaddou’s tenure hasn’t started smoothly. Orlando Pirates have already suffered back-to-back league defeats under the Moroccan coach, leaving some fans sceptical about the season ahead.
Bobby Motaung’s Early Warning
Bobby Motaung’s prediction came months before these results.
A video shared on X (formerly Twitter) in April shows him reacting to Riveiro’s departure:
“Did you see the Pirates coach is leaving? They will be average next season.
We are not changing our coach. Stuart Baxter did the same thing. He won for three seasons.
Once he saw that his profile had improved, what did he do? Things are like that.”
Motaung’s comments drew mixed reactions. Some fans accused him of jealousy over Pirates’ success, while others agreed, noting how European coaches often leave PSL teams after winning trophies.
Pirates’ Struggle to Regain Momentum
Since Riveiro left, Orlando Pirates have struggled to find their rhythm.
They’ve changed much of the squad that brought them previous success, making it harder to replicate last season’s dominance.
Can the Buccaneers Bounce Back?
Only time will tell if the Buccaneers can rediscover their winning ways under Ouaddou.
Fans are left debating whether the team can rebuild and challenge for silverware once again.