By Dylan Bettencourt
- Orlando Pirates confirmed that head coach Jose Riveiro is leaving after Tuesday’s match, with assistant Mandla Ncikazi taking over for the rest of the season.
- Kaizer Chiefs have not confirmed anything officially, but insiders say the club plans to sack Nasreddine Nabi and his entire technical team.
Both Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs are set to lose their head coaches in an off-season shake-up.
Pirates have confirmed that head coach José Riveiro will leave the team after Tuesday’s clash against Golden Arrows. The Spaniard asked to leave early after agreeing a deal with a new club, and the Buccaneers agreed.
Assistant coach Mandla Ncikazi will take charge of the final four games, with performance analyst Rayaan Jacobs stepping up as his assistant.
Club chairman Irvin Khoza had praise for the departing coach. “His contribution has been immense. While we would have preferred to give him a proper send-off, we respect his decision,” said Khoza.
Riveiro’s exit follows a painful run. Pirates were dumped out of the CAF Champions League, lost ground to Sundowns in the league, and were beaten by Chiefs in the Nedbank Cup final.
Meanwhile, at Naturena, Kaizer Chiefs are rumoured to be preparing to sack head coach Nasreddine Nabi and his entire technical team at the end of the season, no matter how their final matches go.
According to the Sunday Times, the board has already met and decided to end his contract early, although the club has yet to confirm this.
Nabi, hired to rebuild the team and bring back glory, has failed to meet key targets, including finishing in the top three or building a solid playing style. Chiefs backed him with R100 million and 10 new signings, but results haven’t matched the investment.
His team sits in ninth place with two games left, risking another season outside the top eight. His current record is 13 wins, 7 draws and 13 losses from 33 games.
Sporting director Kaizer Motaung Jr isn’t ready to show him the door just yet. Speaking on the radio, he said: “Coach has got another season after this with us now… We’re just planning for the future.”
Nabi believes his recent Nedbank Cup win proves he deserves more time. “This trophy is going to help me continue my process and give fans confidence in this project,” he said.
Pictured above: Nasreddine Nabi.
Image source: File
