Orlando Pirates: Who will replace José Riveiro in the hot seat?
Orlando Pirates find themselves at a critical juncture following the departure of head coach José Riveiro to Egyptian giants Al Ahly. Under Riveiro, the Buccaneers reclaimed silverware and re-established their competitive edge. Now, with the top job vacant, the club must identify a new leader capable of elevating the team from cup success to consistent league triumphs.
The next appointment isn't just about tactics, it's about vision, identity, and ambition.
Here's a look at the top contenders linked to one of South African football's most high-pressure positions, as per iDiski Times .
Rulani Mokwena, recently departed from Moroccan giants Wydad AC, brings both local experience and international perspective. He previously led the Buccaneers in an interim capacity, and his time with Mamelodi Sundowns saw him mature into a top-level tactician.
Having tasted success across the continent, Mokwena could be poised for a high-profile return, though expectations will be far higher than during his first stint.
Pablo Franco Martin blends analytical insight with international coaching experience. Best known locally for his time at AmaZulu, he recently left Saudi side Al-Faisaly and has managed in Spain's top flight with Getafe.
His progressive style may suit Pirates' desire to dominate possession and control games with finesse.
Pablo Machín made headlines in Spain for guiding Girona to their first-ever LaLiga promotion. His journey through elite clubs like Sevilla and Espanyol speaks volumes, but adapting to the intensity and unpredictability of Orlando Pirates is a different challenge altogether.
His tactical rigidity might either provide much-needed structure, or clash with the PSL's expressive nature.
Former Raja Casablanca manager Ricardo Sá Pinto brings a fiery touchline presence and a high-tempo style of football. With coaching stints across Europe, Asia, and Africa, he has lifted trophies at clubs such as Standard Liège, Esteghlal, and APOEL.
Sá Pinto's charisma and intensity might ignite a spark at Pirates, but could his volatility prove a risk?
Abdeslam Ouaddou may not be the loudest name on the list, but his recent success at Marumo Gallants speaks volumes. He stabilised the struggling side and earned praise for quickly turning things around.
A former Moroccan international with European experience, Ouaddou could be a surprise choice, yet one with genuine upside.
When you think of African coaching excellence, Pitso Mosimane inevitably comes to mind. With three CAF Champions League titles and historic success at Al Ahly and Mamelodi Sundowns, he remains one of the most decorated coaches on the continent.
However, with his current focus on Middle Eastern projects and youth development through his football schools, a return to the PSL, and specifically Pirates, appears improbable.
Already part of the technical staff, Mandla Ncikazi understands the club's ethos and squad dynamics better than most. He briefly co-led the side during a transitional period and remains a respected figure within the setup.
While he offers continuity and cohesion, questions linger about whether he has the stature and tactical sharpness to lead a title charge.
Let us know by leaving a comment below or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1.
Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The South African
31 minutes ago
- The South African
BREAKING: Kaizer Chiefs to have pre-season in the Netherlands
Kaizer Chiefs have announced their pre-season plans in preparation for the 2025-26 campaign. In a brief statement published on Thursday, Chiefs confirmed that they will travel to the Netherlands. According to Amakhosi, the entire team will be in the Netherlands between 3-19 July 2025. Last pre-season, Chiefs spent three weeks in Turkey where then new coach Nasreddine Nabi joined them. Nonetheless, their trip to Turkey somehow didn't help them as the team struggled for the better of the season, especially in the league. Kaizer Chiefs to have pre-season in the Netherlands. Image: @KaizerChiefs/X Let us know your thoughts by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
TimesLIVE
40 minutes ago
- TimesLIVE
Siya Kolisi bites back at critics as Sharks set sights on Bulls
As the United Rugby Championship (URC) heads into its decisive stages, all eyes turn to Pretoria this weekend, where the Sharks square off against the Bulls in a blockbuster South African derby semifinal. Despite finishing third in the regular season, the Sharks have come under scrutiny for what many have described as an 'underwhelming' campaign, a label Springbok captain Siya Kolisi dismisses with calm defiance. The Sharks, who edged past Munster in a dramatic 100-minute thriller last weekend, are no strangers to gritty battles. Deadlocked at 24-24, the clash in Durban went to a rare penalty kick shoot-out where the Sharks triumphed 4-2. It was a match that highlighted their resilience and their unpredictability. 🖤 "Having a brother that's always been with you from a young age is very special." The Hendrikse brothers stepped up in the shootout this weekend to help lead the Sharks into the #VURC semi-finals. 📺 Bulls vs Sharks | Saturday | 18:15 kick-off — SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) June 3, 2025 'I know this is a huge topic, there are many reasons why we haven't played to our full potential,' Kolisi told 'A lot of people are looking at the results and the way we play. We know it's something we need to work on and when we review our games, we see our shortcomings. 'Sometimes it's only the one person who is at fault at a particular time.' Kolisi insisted the Sharks are building something powerful and are not concerned with outside opinions. 'The most important thing is we are winning and we know there will be a day where we will play well. We have a lot of confidence [in beating the Bulls] as our team has done this before. 'We have beaten the Bulls three times this season, but we know all of that means nothing and it will be a new fixture this weekend. We have a lot of confidence heading into the match.' Akhona Sihunu and Israel Dagg were two players that Aphelele Fassi admired during his Dale College days 🤝 But his first inspiration comes from watching his older brothers playing rugby for the school 🖤🤍 📺 Bulls vs Sharks | Saturday | 18:15 kick-off | #VURC — SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) June 5, 2025 One of the biggest talking points of the Sharks' season has been the inability of their star-studded line-up, featuring up to 12 Springboks, to consistently replicate their dominant international form at club level. Kolisi is unfazed by that. 'The game plan [for Springboks and Sharks] is not the same, so I can't answer that question. I personally give my all for both the Sharks and Springboks. 'They are just two different systems we as players have to deal with, but if people are doubting our effort when we play for the Sharks, they must come look at our stats when we play for the Sharks and when we play for the Springboks.' Saturday's showdown was not without drama. In the shoot-out, Sharks scrumhalf Jaden Hendrickse drew attention after what appeared to be a taunt directed at Munster's Jack Crowley. Hendrickse, who cramped up immediately after his kick, was seen winking at Crowley, sparking an on-field verbal exchange caught clearly by the referee's microphone. 'There is absolutely nothing wrong with what Jaden did there. These things happen in rugby and other teams have done similar things before,' Kolisi said. 'Sometimes people also say things to me in a game and the onus is on the person and what they do when they are provoked. 'There are players in Jack's team [Munster] who do the exact same thing to other players from the opposition. It's just that this time it was heard on the referee's mic. We stand with Jaden. 'We're not going to get distracted. The focus is this weekend, nothing else.' With the Bulls seen by many as favourites to reach the URC final, the Sharks find themselves again in the role of disrupters. They may not have lit up the season with flair, but in knockout rugby, grit often trumps style. And if the past three meetings between the two this season are anything to go by, the Durban outfit have every reason to believe they can prevail.
IOL News
43 minutes ago
- IOL News
South African REIT sector posts 4. 1% gain in May, outpacing equity and bond markets
The shares of South Africa's listed commercial property sector continues to rise steadily in May from a slow start at the beginning of the year as interest rates continue to decline, there was a small reprieve in global tariff regimes and local property fundamentals improved. Image: AI Lab The South African REIT sector continued its upward trajectory in May, posting a 4.1% gain, once again outperforming the equity market returns of 3.1% and the 2.7% rise in bonds, said Ian Anderson, Head of Listed Property and Portfolio Manager at Merchant West Investments. Anderson, compiler of the SA REIT Association's monthly Chart Book, attributed the sector's improving sentiment to expectations of lower interest rates in South Africa, a small reprieve in global tariff tensions, and growing evidence that property fundamentals are strengthening. 'These trends set the stage for higher distributable earnings growth across the sector in 2025 and 2026,' said Anderson. The REIT sector gain in May builds on April's 6.9% surge, bringing the sector's year-to-date return to 6.7% - a recovery from a slow start in January. While the sector's performance still trailed the broader equity market's gain of 14%, SA REITs had now outpaced the bond market in 2025, signaling renewed investor confidence, he said. This comes as South Africa's 10-year government bond yield recently dropped to below 10% for the first time in more than three years. May saw several REITs reporting their financial results, reinforcing the sector's ongoing recovery: Redefine Properties results for the six months to end-February 2025 saw revenue up 3.5% and distributable income per share rising 0.7%, leading to an interim dividend increase. Full-year guidance was maintained, with expectations that distributable income per share will range between 50c and 53c - representing growth of between 0% and 6%. Equites Property Fund delivered full-year results in line with market expectations, increasing distributions by 2.1% to 133.92 cents per share. More notably, guidance for 2026 far exceeded consensus forecasts, with anticipated distribution growth between 5% and 7%, driven by strong rental growth and a high-quality logistics portfolio following two years of asset recycling. Equites was the top-performing REIT in May, with its share price rallying 10%. Western Cape focused Spear REIT also benefited from robust results, reporting a 9% share price increase following its full-year results to end-February 2025. The company also announced the acquisition of Berg River Business Park in Paarl for R182.15 million in an all-shares transaction. Management is exploring further acquisitions and developments. Other REITs reporting results in May included Burstone, Delta, Dipula, Emira, and Octodec, with a common theme emerging - property fundamentals in South Africa are improving across all sub-sectors, reinforcing investor confidence. The market capitalisation of the SA REIT sector now surpasses R250 billion - marking the first time since January 2020 that it has reached this level. 'With further interest cuts a possibility, stabilising macroeconomic conditions, and improving company guidance, investor confidence remains strong, and the momentum is likely to carry through the remainder of 2025,' said Anderson.
