Orlando Pirates triumph over Kaizer Chiefs secures Jose Riveiro’s legend status

Comment by Matshelane Mamabolo

NO MATTER what happens next weekend and in the remaining matches of the season, Jose Riveiro has secured his status as an Orlando Pirates legend as Saturday’s 2-1 victory over Kaizer Chiefs ensured that.

In leading the Buccaneers to completing a season double over Amakhosi, the Spaniard equalled the record of the most derby wins by a coach of either Soweto giants in the Premier Soccer League era.

This was his fifth win, the same number as that of former Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter.

The soft-spoken coach, who is leaving the club at the end of the season, could well go ahead of the Englishman before he returns home to Vigo.

All he needs to do is to ensure Pirates hold on to their Nedbank Cup title when they play the same Chiefs at Moses Mabhida Stadium next Saturday.

And on the strength of this win, it would be folly to bet against him winning an unprecedented third, successive title of the country’s premier club knockout competition.

Pre-match, the general feeling was that Pirates were on a hiding to nothing – the Buccaneers having lost their two matches prior and the camp appearing somewhat disillusioned.

The superstitious among us were even pointing out that ‘bad things happen in threes’.

When Chiefs opened the scoring via Makabi Glody Lilepo within the first two minutes, the observant picked up that it was the third match in a row that Pirates were conceding a goal to a DR Congolese player.

Pyramids FC’s Fiston Mayele had scored the winner and his compatriot Tresor Yamba was on the mark for Sekhukhune United in their 1-0 victory at Orlando Stadium midweek.

Pirates were going to fall to a Congolese goal yet again it seemed, Chiefs particularly firing on all cylinders in the initial stages.

Amidst it all, Riveiro maintained his usual calm demeanour on the bench, standing occasionally to direct proceedings and then taking that trademark posture of his on the edge of the technical area to watch the match with his elbow on his knee and the chin balanced on his palm.

He had a game-plan, and he was not about to be dissuaded from it by Chiefs enjoying the upper hand.

After all, this is a Pirates team he has painstakingly built over three years, and he knows exactly what they can do and how they can do it.

And true to form, Pirates levelled matters through Evidence Makgopa before the halftime break, and normalcy was restored.

Pirates dictated matters henceforth, with Mohau Nkota making good runs on the wing and Relebohile Mofokeng occasionally showing off his immense skills.

Through it all, the coach they had referred to as a plumber when he first came over here watched like a hawk from the bench.

At times he would share ideas with his assistant Mandla Ncikazi as they plotted how to get the Buccaneers back to winning ways.

They need not have bothered much, because they had a talisman on the field, and he delivered, with Mofokeng scoring what turned out to be the winning goal as Pirates won a fifth successive match against their bitter enemies.

It was a victory that served to illustrate just how superb a coach Riveiro is, and explained just why Pirates had tried to get him to extend his stay at the end of his three-year contract.

But why should he stay on when he has proven himself already?

Sure, the league title has eluded him, and it is unlikely he will pull the rug from underneath champions Mamelodi Sundowns’ feet.

Yet, that failure should not be allowed to take away from the incredible work Riveiro has done as Pirates coach.

He has repeatedly spoken of how his life will never be the same from having associated with the Buccaneers.

He should know that Pirates are all the better for having had him as their coach.

Many years after he has left, Jose Riveiro’s name will be spoken of very fondly by everyone associated with Orlando Pirates.

And this fifth Soweto derby victory has made sure of that fact.