• Riveiro joined Pirates in 2022
• He is now going into his third season as Bucs coach
• Da Gama tips him to achieve big things

WHAT HAPPENED?

Jose Riveiro's two seasons at Orlando Pirates have seen the Soweto giants twice missing out on the PSL title and finishing as number two to Mamelodi Sundowns.

The Spaniard also led the Buccaneers to back-to-back MTN8 titles while also claiming the Nedbank Cup twice.

Veteran PSL coach Owen Da Gama has made a huge claim that Riveiro can be what Sir Alex Ferguson was to Manchester United.

WHAT DA GAMA SAID

"There’s a lot of continuity. They have the same coach, they still have most of the players they had last season, and they've strengthened," Da Gama told KickOff.

"I think it's very unfair to expect Riveiro to win the league this season. There was a time when Sundowns were not winning the league but winning cup competitions. I think Pirates are going to put a very good assault on the league this season, though. It's about continuity.

"It took Alex Ferguson six years to win the league, and once he won it, he couldn't stop it, and they broke all sorts of records," the former Buccaneers coach added.

"So, I think Riveiro has done very well and he should be allowed to continue to build. Football is not a destination, it's a process, it's a journey. The fans must allow the management, the coaching department and the players to walk the journey to build them something special.

"I think the potential is there for Riveiro to be Pirates' Alex Ferguson. He's done very well, and this season is gonna be a test for him," Da Gama continued.

"Everyone wants to see if Pirates could progress beyond last season."

Though Da Gama who turns 63 on 18 August, earlier said it would be unfair to expect Riveiro to win the league this season, he says it is still something the Spaniard should be aiming for.

"Last season, they finished second, so they've got to challenge for the league this season. This is where we will see what the coach can do," he went on.

"But I think if he loses the league by one or two points, then he would have done a great job. It mustn't be a runaway for Sundowns, you know.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

When Riveiro first arrived in South Africa in 2022, he was an unknown coach and the Pirates role was his first job in Africa.

Now in his third season at the Soweto giants, expectations on him are to end Mameldi Sundowns' dominance of the PSL.

The Buccaneers have never won the PSL title since the 2011/12 season and that places Riveiro under pressure to end that long drought.

WHAT NEXT FOR PIRATES?

The Buccaneers kick off the 2024/25 season with the MTN8 quarter-final tie against SuperSport United at Orlando Stadium on Saturday.

It is a bid by Pirates to defend the MTN8 which they have won in the last two seasons under Riveiro.