Polokwane City coach Phuti Mohafe has showered praise on outgoing Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro for the great work he has done in his three years in charge.
Riveiro is currently saying his goodbyes, even with his team in the thick of a three-way trophy hunt, after announcing that he will be leaving the Soweto giants at the end of the season after his contract expires.
The Spanish tactician has been lauded for turning around Pirates’ fortunes with the club now playing an attractive brand of football, integrating a lot of young players and winning trophies, having claimed five so far.
Riveiro lauded for lifting SA football
“Even though that is out of my league, I can say he has done a massive job there. Winning six or five cups in three seasons is not child's play. Winning a cup every season is not child's play, so he has contributed massively to our league,” Mohafe said as per SABC.
Those words left Riveiro gushing as he feels it becomes more special when colleagues appreciate the work he puts in even more than supporters.
“For us as coaches, when you get recognition from our colleagues, I think it's the best one you can get from your own players and your colleagues, and it's something to appreciate,” Riveiro said.
“Like I said many times, I just came here to try to do my best to help my club, to help my team to get better. To improve, to go to a better place, to go to a better level together with the coaching staff and so far, I think we did a good job.
What else could Pirates coach win?
“I will leave it at good, it's for the people to evaluate what we do each and every day for these players, for the club as well.”
Riveiro is a popular figure among Pirates fans not just by what he has done at the club but also how he carries himself.
The tactician could end the season with more trophies as his team are 12 points behind Mamelodi Sundowns in the PSL title race, with three games in hand, in the Nedbank Cup semi-final, and in the CAF Champions League, they have a 1-0 lead from the quarter-final first leg ahead of the return match at Orlando Stadium on Wednesday.
