Johannesburg – Jose Riveiro anticipated that it would take some time before he could lead Orlando Pirates back to the top of South African soccer, but he did not expect it to be this difficult.
The choice of the Spaniard as the new steward of the Buccaneers left ‘The Ghost’ bewildered, given his unknown track record.
He led the squad to five victories, two losses, and two draws in his first nine games, prompting the Ghost to alter their opinion of him.
In the MTN8 semi-final first leg, the team battled toe-to-toe with five-time consecutive league champions Mamelodi Sundowns, who had won the title five times in a row.
But since that ‘beautiful draw’ following the international window in which Pirates had four shots on target, a great deal has happened. They have their backs against the wall.
After hitting blanks in their last three outings, the Pirates remain winless. To quiet the supporters, they must defeat the visiting AmaZulu at home tomorrow night.
A victory would extend Riveiro’s time at the head, while a loss would raise the weight on his shoulders.
On Saturday, after being held scoreless by Richards Bay, there were rumours that the team met with its management after the match.
The outcomes of that meeting are unknown. But they likely all had something to do with the team’s three-match losing streak.
A Pirates victory over Usuthu, a squad attempting to regain their honor, is not assured. Usuthu’s new coach, Romain Folz, will be eager to make an impression in his debut game.
The French-born coach resigned from Marumo Gallants after two months in charge.
Folz, 32, said he was hindered by management meddling, despite being young and relatively new to the PSL after coaching in Botswana.
However, the issue with this Pirates team is not playing an opponent outside the park. Instead, it involves shuffling and rearranging the starting lineup.
Certainly, players can dazzle in training, but that does not indicate that they should start the next game over a more impressive player.
Olisa Ndah was not a starter at the beginning of the season. And that stunned the football community, including the Ghost, considering his excellent rookie season.
However, we grew accustomed to the fact that Riveiro favored the pairing of Nkosinathi Sibisi and Tapelo Xoki, who also impressed from the beginning.
Sibisi and Xoki were so brilliant in their first nine matches that they only allowed four goals. Since the integration of players into the team, this has changed.
The Ghost will prioritize victory above all else as they host Usuthu. This will be conceivable if the Pirates’ marksmen are at their peak performance.
And they do not lack personnel to contribute to the aims. Instead, it is the rotation and replacement of individuals that continues to hinder the team’s performance.
Many would believe that new attacker Kermit Erasmus should start over Zakhele Lepasa, who has been subpar since his brace a month ago.
It was always going to be difficult. However, if Riveiro continues to tinker with his lineup, he risks having to catch the next flight to Spain. It is achievable at Pirates.
@MihlaliBaleka
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