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Orlando Pirates new head coach news: Florent Ibenge the one?

Orlando Pirates new head coach news: Florent Ibenge the one?

Orlando Pirates are on the brink of unveiling a new head coach following the sudden departure of José Riveiro to Egyptian giants Al Ahly. The club has kept its cards close to its chest, refusing to confirm or deny ongoing speculation, but behind the scenes, the coaching search has intensified.
A source has revealed that agents have offered highly-rated Congolese coach Florent Ibenge to Orlando Pirates. While interest around the former CAF Confederation Cup winner is heating up, no formal approach has been made by the Buccaneers yet.
As of yesterday, Ibenge remains under contract with Sudanese powerhouse Al Hilal but has not signed any extension, leaving the door wide open for a potential move.
Ibenge poured cold water on swirling rumours but did little to close the door.
'Look, Micky… everything is still rumours for now,' Florent told Micky Jnr, African social media journalist.
Pressed further about his future with Al Hilal, he added.
'You'll know in (a) few days' time.'
The urgency within the club is mounting, as Pirates prepare for a European pre-season tour. The squad is scheduled to jet off to Germany in the first week of July. And the technical team is keen to have a new head coach installed before then.
'The team is expected to leave for pre-season in Germany during the first week of July. So they are planning to have the new coach by that time as part of their pre-season,' revealed a club insider.
With time ticking and speculation swirling, all eyes are now on Orlando Pirates.
Will they swoop in for Ibenge, or does the Bucs' management have a different ace up their sleeve?
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.
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