FORMER Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro was given a two-year contract at Al-Ahly. | BackpagePix
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Not in his wildest dreams must Jose Riveiro imagined that it’d get this big. But now that it surpassed his imagination, he must soak it all in. He’s earned it!
Riveiro ascended to the hottest coaching seat in club football on the continent as he was announced as Al Ahly’s coach this week on a two-year deal.
Of course, this is Al Ahly we are talking about - he might even be lucky to last a full season at the club if he doesn’t win the CAF Champions League at full attempt next season.
I am not trying to jinx things for him - but he knows that he replaced Marcel Koller who came up short in the semi-final after winning back-to-back African crowns.
But let’s not spend time increasing the volume on what comes with expectations of coaching the Red Devils, instead let’s congratulate Riveiro and wish him well in his new role.
Riveiro is proof that when one works hard in silence, their success speaks for them as he arrived on the continent as an unpopular figure and changed that in four years.
He might have reached the ceiling in a coaching role in club football in Africa, but his coaching prowess, and personality is going to be tested.
He must hold dear to the philosophy that made him succeed at Orlando Pirates, but he must be able to acclimatise - know when, and how to react in match and daily life situations.
He should be able to do that as well. Not only did he bring his own trusted lieutenants, but he feels he’s at the right place where he can fully succeed as a coach.
“I'm in a European club. You don't lack anything. This is what I dreamt of and hoped for, to coach a team the size of Al Ahly,” said Riveiro according to reports from Egypt.
But while Pirates might be inferior to Al Ahly, what Riveiro did at the club wasn’t short of success in just three seasons as well.
He duly made the Ghost ‘Happy People’ yet again, winning five cup finals out of six, and finishing up as the runners-up to serial champions Mamelodi Sundowns.
The three successive misses on the title are what dented his CV as the greatest honour that a coach can get is by being crowned the king of his domestic league.
But, boy, it’s safe to say that Riveiro made up for that blemish by planting seeds which can yield positive fruits not only for Pirates, but the nation at large in the near-future.
‘Cocomelon football’ was in motion at Pirates last season, with youngsters getting promoted and making their mark.
That didn’t go unnoticed as well. Youngsters, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Mohau Nkota and Simphiwe Selepe, who made their debuts this year, recently got Bafana Bafana call-ups.
The trio are in coach Hugo Broos’ final 23-member squad which will face Tanzania and Mozambique in two international friendlies in June.
And while they’ll all admit that Broos’ decision was independent, they’ll be grateful for the opportunity to make their professional appearance under Riveiro at Pirates.
The Spaniard will also be extra-motivated to see his proteges take a further step in their career as he always believed that whoever takes his opportunity will flourish in future.
It’s still unclear who’ll replace Riveiro in the head coaching role at the start of pre-season in Spain, but the management must be wise in their approach for a new coach.
Continuity is usually golden - hence Pirates cannot fix something that's broken. The new coach must come in, implement his philosophy, but also ensure there’s continuity.