COMMENT: The Ghost of Riveiro,Ouaddou’s toughest opponent at Orlando Pirates

Orlando Pirates have stumbled out of the gates under new coach Abdeslam Ouaddou, losing their first two Betway Premiership fixtures before holding champions Mamelodi Sundowns to a draw in Saturday’s MTN8 semi-final first leg. 

It is hardly the dream start many Buccaneers fans had hoped for.

But the real opponent confronting the Moroccan tactician isn’t Sundowns’ dominance, nor the unpredictable rhythms of a Soweto rivalry. 

It is the shadow of José Riveiro, the Spaniard whose success still looms large at Orlando Stadium.

In two and a half years, Riveiro brought a sense of stability, two MTN8 titles, back-to-back Nedbank Cups and, crucially, restored belief that Pirates could win again. 

More than trophies, he gave them an identity, with a possession-based style and sharp attacking transitions that reignited the “Happy People.” That is the standard Ouaddou must now match — and quickly.

Every result so far has already been filtered through the prism of Riveiro. Back-to-back league defeats triggered the familiar murmur: “This wouldn’t have happened under José.” 

Even the encouraging draw against Sundowns has been framed less as Ouaddou’s tactical imprint and more as a continuation of what the previous regime built.

The difficulty for the new coach is compounded by the fact that this is still Riveiro’s squad. Patrick Maswanganyi, Relebohile Mofokeng, Evidence Makgopa and Makhehleni Makhaula flourished under the Spaniard. 

To dismantle that foundation would be reckless. Yet keeping it intact means Ouaddou risks being seen as a caretaker of another man’s legacy, rather than the architect of his own.

History shows this is not a unique dilemma. At Sundowns, Pitso Mosimane’s successors made a staggered start in trying to escape his legacy until Rulani Mokwena gradually introduced his own fingerprints without tearing down the successful framework. 

Ouaddou faces a similar balancing act: respecting the blueprint while slowly layering his own philosophy.

Where the Moroccan may find his opening is the league campaign. For all Riveiro’s cup success, he never unlocked the consistency required to end Sundowns’ stranglehold on the Premiership. 

Pirates fans have waited more than a decade for a league crown. If Ouaddou can mount a genuine title challenge, he will immediately begin to separate his story from that of his predecessor.

The early results underline how steep the climb will be, but Saturday’s draw against Sundowns hinted that Pirates remain competitive. 

What Ouaddou cannot afford, however, is to let perception swallow him. Supporters are patient only up to a point, and the longer the Spaniard’s shadow lingers, the harder it will be to win hearts and minds.

For now, Ouaddou’s greatest opponent is not Kaizer Chiefs or Mamelodi Sundowns, but the memory of José Riveiro. Turning that shadow from a burden into a springboard will define his reign at Orlando Stadium.