With 120 games behind him as head coach of Orlando Pirates, Jose Riveiro doesn’t view the milestone as something to celebrate.
The Spaniard is now the longest-serving coach in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) for Orlando Pirates, surpassing Ruud Krol.
Since joining the Buccaneers in July 2022, Riveiro has brought success to the club, winning five trophies, although the league title remains elusive.
“Probably, right now, I cannot give the real value or meaning to those 120 games, but let’s aim for more. I am not going to say I am proud of myself because I am not doing this alone,” said Riveiro.
“For coaches in our position to stay at a club for 120 games… I’m about to finish my third season here at Pirates. It may seem normal, but it’s not, unfortunately, for us (coaches).
“Well, it’s been a long run, obviously… what can I say? It’s just a number, but when you look at that number, you understand how much dedication is behind it, how much time and sacrifices.”
Riveiro began this season with high hopes of clinching the league title. However, the team’s inconsistency has been a major issue, with the club dropping numerous points in the race for the championship against rivals Mamelodi Sundowns.
Currently, Pirates are second on the log with 40 points, 18 points behind leaders Sundowns (58 points after 22 games). However, the Bucs have four games in hand.