When a coach leads a team to multiple trophies and still decides to walk away, it naturally raises a few eyebrows.
That’s exactly what’s been happening at Orlando Pirates—first with Ruud Krol, and now, with Jose Riveiro.
Both coaches achieved impressive success during their three-year stints.
And yet, both chose to exit just as things were seemingly peaking.
Success Followed by Goodbyes
Former Orlando Pirates winger Dikgang Mabalane, who played under Krol, has noticed this unusual pattern.
He can’t help but reflect on the striking similarities between the two exits. Krol walked away after clinching a treble.
Now Riveiro, having bagged five trophies, is set to step down at the end of the season. For Mabalane, it’s almost a déjà vu moment.
“It’s strange,” he shared, speaking to iDiskiTimes. “In my time, we also won the treble, and Krol left when things were going really well.
Now the same thing might happen with Riveiro. It makes you wonder what’s really going on behind the scenes.”
No Clear Answers, But Plenty of Questions
Mabalane admits he doesn’t have the full picture on why Riveiro is leaving, but he suspects it could be something beyond the coach’s control.
Still, he’s quick to praise what Riveiro has accomplished during his time in charge, adding that part of him wishes the Spaniard would stay.
“He’s done well for the club,” Mabalane said. “And while it’s sometimes better to leave when you’re at your best, I honestly thought he could lead them to a league title. He looked like the right guy for that challenge.”
Big Shoes to Fill for the Next Man In
With Riveiro’s time ticking down, the big question now is: who will be trusted to take the reins? According to Mabalane, whoever steps in will be under pressure from day one.
The expectations will be sky-high—not just to maintain momentum, but to build on it.
“Whoever comes in will need to hit the ground running,” Mabalane noted.
“It’s clear the mandate will be to go for the league title, no doubt about that.”
Looking Ahead to Next Season
The Pirates haven’t yet announced who their next head coach will be.
That decision will surely shape what kind of team we see on the pitch next season.
Will the new coach live up to the legacy of Krol and Riveiro? Or will Pirates struggle to maintain the same level of consistency?
Only time will tell—but one thing’s for sure, fans and former players alike will be watching very closely.