Orlando Pirates are reportedly considering Pitso Mosimane as a possible candidate to take over incase coach Jose Riveiro opts against staying at the club beyond this season.
Riveiro is in the final year of his contract and having done well since joining in June 2022, Pirates are keen to retain him, with a new and improved three-year contract on the table.
However, the Spanish tactician has not signed the deal as he weighs his option with the stumbling block believed to be a need to be close to host family after spending three years away.
With that in mind, Pirates are believed to be drawing up a contingency plan and Mosimane is among the names in consideration in case they cannot convince Riveiro to stay.
Mosimane appealing to Pirates
“They are just planning things in advance and apparently what they are looking at is a coach who knows South African football inside out in all aspects and its believed Pitso Mosimane is that coach,” a source told Soccer Laduma.
“It’s not that they have given up on Riveiro. No. They still want to keep him but they don’t want to be caught with their guards down hence the plan to have Pitso if things don’t work out with Riveiro.”
Riveiro has lifted Pirates into a team now challenging for titles on a regular basis and has already won five trophies for the Soweto giants, three MTN8s as well as two Nedbank Cups, and already in this season’s semi-final.
Can the Bucs convince ‘Jingles’ to sign?
The tactician has elevated Pirates even further this season when they have challenged Sundowns for the title for most of the campaign while they are in the CAF Champions League quarter-final for the first time in 11 years.
Pirates therefore feel a serial winner like Mosimane can build on what Riveiro has achieved and take them even further but it is not known if ‘Jingles’ would be open to a return to the PSL.
Mosimane is currently without a club after leaving Iranian side Esteghlal in January, having also worked in Egypt with Al Ahly, in Saudi with Al-Ahli Jeddah as well as the UAE, since ending his eight-year trophy laden spell with Mamelodi Sundowns in 2020.
