Why Pitso Mosimane, not Jose Riveiro, is the right fit for Kaizer Chiefs

Orlando Pirates’ affiliation with Jose Riveiro runs deep. As such, when the Spaniard was asked whether he’d ever consider coaching another club in the PSL after leaving Pirates, he didn’t mince his words.

“No, never. Once, Always. I'll never coach any other team in South Africa. I'm a Buccaneer for life,” Riveiro said. “Orlando Pirates is the only club that I could have the courage, motivation, and heart to coach again in the country. No doubt!”

So, the allegations linking Riveiro with a move to Kaizer Chiefs couldn’t be further from the truth—especially considering the 50-year-old has shown in recent years, after building his name at Pirates, that he’s a man of his word.

Granted, being unemployed—after recently being sacked by Al Ahly following his three-year stint at Pirates—is not ideal for Riveiro. But the Spaniard would want nothing more than to remain loyal to Pirates and the Ghost, even long after the relationship between all parties comes to an end.

Pirates was more than just a club for Riveiro; it was his home. It’s where he honed his coaching skills, winning five trophies—after losing one cup final to arch-rivals Chiefs—and reaching the CAF Champions League semi-final for the first time since 2013.

With the Amakhosi faithful also a proud bunch, there are few guarantees they would welcome Riveiro to the club with open arms. The reign of Nasreddine Nabi, which is reportedly close to ending due to a licensing issue, caused more good than harm overall.

Nabi arrived at the club with a lofty reputation, having won trophies at Young Africans and finished second in the Moroccan top-flight with AS FAR Rabat before joining Chiefs.

However, he struggled at Chiefs—even though he won the Nedbank Cup last season but he also finished outside the Top 8 in the Betway Premiership. Sadly, Nabi’s reign at the club is one to forget.

Chiefs now need someone who can hit the ground running and build on a solid start to the league season—winning four games, drawing one, and losing one—while ensuring they challenge for the two remaining trophies: the Nedbank Cup and Carling Knockout.

Aside from Riveiro, Pedro Soares Gonçalves has also been tipped to take over the vacant head coaching role at Chiefs, according to Cabine Desportiva in Portugal.

Gonçalves is currently unemployed after recently being sacked as head coach of the Angolan national team, ending a nearly eight-year, largely successful reign with the Palancas Negras. He won two COSAFA Cups with the team.

But while the 49-year-old may have done well with Angola, most Amakhosi faithful believe someone like Pitso Mosimane would be the ideal candidate for the club.

Mosimane knows the PSL like the back of his hand, having won numerous trophies during his spells at Mamelodi Sundowns and the now-defunct SuperSport United. He has earned continental respect as well, having won three African titles—two with Al Ahly and one with Sundowns.

Granted, Mosimane won’t come cheap. But given that he’s been away from the game for some time and has revealed that he's open to joining Chiefs as long as the project fits his vision, it’s likely both parties could find a middle ground.

They need each other at the moment. Chiefs also boast world-class facilities at their base in Taung Village, Naturena, which many coaches across the globe would dream of working at.

That’s why Mosimane—and not Riveiro—would be the perfect replacement for Nabi, whose time at the club has been underwhelming.