Jose Riveiro says Orlando Pirates will look to improve their technical team following the departure of Sergio Almenara.
Riveiro’s assistant coach parted ways with the Buccaneers following the completion of their 2023/24 DStv Premiership campaign.
The Spaniard cited personal issues as his reason for leaving, and while the departure came as a shock to fans, the Bucs boss was well aware that Almenara’s time at the club was coming to an end.
Riveiro said on Radio 2000: “It’s something that I knew since about five, six months ago.
“It belongs to his personal space first of all. The only thing I can say is that he was exceptionally good for the institution during these two years.
“Tireless worker every day and massive contribution towards the things we were achieving during these two years together. Personally, I the last five years working together, every single day, so we have, you can imagine we are much more than colleagues, we are family.”
Almenara was influential as the Bucs secured two successive second-placed finishes, two Nedbank Cups and two MTN8 trophies.
“It’s difficult for me from now to imagine my future without Sergio [Almenara], but I totally understand the reasons behind that and I’m fully supporting him, and who knows, maybe in the near future we will work together again, but now my time continues here in [Orlando] Pirates, and we will find solutions.
“It’s not going to be a problem,” added Riveiro, who also explained the club’s plans going forward.
“More than an assistant coach. We are looking to improve the coaching staff. It’s a permanently chasing possibilities to increase our probabilities to succeed,” he said.