Following Orlando Pirates’ announcement that head coach Jose Riveiro will not renew his contract at the end of the season, hope has been reignited for certain players who struggled for game time under his tenure.
The likes of Zakhele Lepasa, Miguel Timm, Phillip Ndlondlo, and Karim Kimvuidi, among others, could see a fresh opportunity to secure their places under new leadership.
READ: Pirates Could Look In-House To Replace Riveiro
Insiders at the club have indicated that these players are expected to be given a chance during pre-season to prove their worth to the incoming coach.
"What I can tell you now is that even those players are looking forward to next season and the new coach. They now have hope that with the change in the technical department their chances of playing could improve depending on what the new coach may be looking at. You know when a new coach comes in there are changes even in the playing personnel and this is why other players are now believing that they could still stay at the club longer. They are looking forward to grabbing their chance again. But they still have to prove themselves to whoever the new coach is going to be but there is hope," the insider told the Siya crew.
While the transition could be a fresh start for some, a second insider pointed out that shifts in technical leadership could negatively affect current regulars who might not fit into the next coach's plans.
"You have to think about those who are playing who could not be wanted or needed by the new coach. What if the new coach doesn't like youngsters? What if his playing style doesn't fit the players who are playing now? So it's obvious whatever happens it won't just affect the fringe players but also the regulars and you can see that already playing in the minds of the players mainly at training. No one is quite sure what the next coach and next season brings. We are all just playing a wait and see game right now," the second insider observed.
READ: Why Pirates Can't Sell Club To MaMkhize
During his three years at Pirates, Riveiro showed a preference for a consistent core group of players, relying on trusted options to deliver results. While opportunities for rotation were limited, he did give several youngsters a platform to shine, including Relebohile Mofokeng, Mohau Nkota, Thabiso Sesane, and Mbekezeli Mbokazi.
As Pirates prepare for life after Riveiro, all eyes will be on the new coaching appointment and how it impacts the squad dynamics moving forward.
