
Tau on Riveiro: 'What he did at Pirates says he's good...'
Al Ahly's FIFA Club World Cup coach, Jose Riveiro, has cleared the air on why he left Betway Premiership giants Orlando Pirates in April.
Days before Riveiro took Al Ahly to the FIFA Club World Cup to open the tournament against Lionel Messi's Inter Miami, the Spaniard spoke to the media about his exit from the Buccaneers.
According to the former Orlando Pirates mentor who lifted three MTN8 titles and two Nedbank Cup trophies, it was time for new horizons.
Kaizer Chiefs news: Congolese attacker and Bafana winger Former Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro during a training session with his new club Al Ahly before the FIFA Club World Cup. Image: @AlAhly/X
'The decision was based on my feelings, and that my time at Orlando Pirates was up,' Riveiro said on Metro FM. 'I had to continue my journey and challenge myself in a new environment.
'So, I think it's also positive for Pirates to continue differently, try to find a different challenge, and for the club to also find someone to continue the journey, to take the team to the next level.'
The soft-spoken Spaniard added, 'Al Ahly is a club that gives you a good platform to continue growing and winning trophies. I think it's a good option for my development. I had to make a decision.
Junior Khanye: 'Tau can't goto Chiefs or Pirates'
'After all, I'm used to being alone and far from everything, and concentrating on my job because that's what I do, and that's what I'm going to do here [at Al Ahly],' he concluded.
'It's going to require a lot from him, where he's going is very different to South Africa. It's a club with so many fans and passion, they really love the club so much and he has to win every competition that he participates in,' Tau said on 947's MSW .
Makola gives two names for the Orlando Pirates job
'But they've also given him the resources, they've signed him a lot of good players, so that would help but he has to do better than the previous coach, (Marcel) Koller, he won 11 trophies with me. He (Riveiro) has to do better than that.
'What he has done with Orlando Pirates it does say he's a good coach, he knows what he's doing. I think he can do well but it's going to require a lot. At Al Ahly it's not only the games he has to deal with…' Tau concluded.
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1
Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

IOL News
an hour ago
- IOL News
Can the Yellow Nation sink the Yellow Submarine?
Tashreeq Matthews (centre, No 17) could provide Mamelodi Sundowns with inside information on his former club Borussia Dortmund. Photo: PHANDO JIKELO Image: PHANDO JIKELO THIS is it. This is the match that was always going to define Mamelodi Sundowns' Fifa Club World Cup. The clash against one of Europe's top clubs – Borussia Dortmund – stood out as the biggest test for the South African champions from the moment the draw for the global club championship was made. The general notion was that the Bundesliga club have to be the favourites to top Group F, while Sundowns would, at best, be third behind Fluminense, with Ulsan HD pencilled in as the potential worst team. Football is, however, very fickle at the top, and ahead of this evening's clash (6pm SA time kick-off) between the Yellow Nation of Tshwane and the Yellow Submarine of Germany, the standings are nothing like what the punters had forecasted. Sundowns are top of the group with maximum points following their 1-0 defeat of the South Korean team they should actually have smashed by much more. Iqraam Rayners scored the winner on a night when Lucas Ribeiro Costa was in scintillating form delivering some sublime passes to find the Capetonian striker, who actually put the ball into the opposition net on three occasions. It was a real pity that on two of those, he'd handled the ball before scoring and then strayed offside prior to receiving the ball from his Brazilian teammate. It was the kind of performance, though, that would have imbued Sundowns with confidence as they go into the clash with a Dortmund likely to not be as cock-a-hoop as they'd have been at the start of the tournament. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Held goalless by Fluminense in their opener, the Germans are going to be hard-pressed to win tonight if they are to be sure of progressing to the knockout phase... and often that can be a recipe for panic. Granted, it is generally accepted that a clash between a European and an African side should go the way of the former. And after Manchester City beat Wydad Casablanca this week, that notion would have been strengthened. But there's nothing to say Sundowns cannot pull the rug from underneath the feet of their revered opponents, not when Ronwen Williams and his teammates are so hyped up following that win over Ulsan. It is a massive test for the multiple South African champions, who will know that the rest of the world has their eyes on them after they were the only one of the four African teams to win their opening match. And with Al Ahly losing their second match, Sundowns essentially carry the baton for Africa – the continent is banking on them to progress out of the round robin phase. Surely that must be motivation enough for them to give their best against Dortmund. Besides, there is also the opportunity for them to market themselves to the world, this match likely to attract a much bigger audience – not only in the stadium – but on television, simply because of the stature of their opponents. Whereas prior to the start of the competition they were probably seen as just another African team by their opponents, Sundowns are now surely a serious opposition to Dortmund, and this much, the German club's coach has confirmed. 'As I said at the beginning of the press conference, I think my team and Fluminense are favourites. But in football, you must first play the games and show that you are favourites,' said Niko Kovac. 'We have some impressions and we know that Sundowns played in the (CAF) Champions League final a few weeks ago. 'So, they are a tough opponent as you saw in the other games. You must work very hard against African teams. 'They are strong and powerful. So, for that, we need to refresh our minds, and to be fully prepared because the next games are very important for us.' The good thing for Sundowns is that they have, in Tashreeq Matthews, a player with a little bit of knowledge of their opponents – the young attacker having previously turned out for the Germans. He was not particularly effective against Ulsan, though, and it remains to be seen how coach Miguel Cardoso uses him for this one. It is a big match, not only for Sundowns, but for African football, as it presents the continent with an opportunity to show just how we rank against the Europeans, who are generally accepted to be at the top of the game in the world. Wouldn't it be grand if the Yellow Nation were to be victorious over the Yellow Submarine?


The South African
2 hours ago
- The South African
Reports: Orlando Pirates name selling price for Mofokeng
Orlando Pirates star Relebohile Mofokeng has attracted attention. Thanks to 12 goals and 15 assists in 49 games. A recent report said the 20-year-old Betway Premiership winger, who can also play as a number 10, has attracted interest from two Israeli giants. The Orlando Pirates attacker also earned continental experience last season. Mofokeng scored five goals and made three assists in the CAF Champions League. Kaizer Chiefs sign three South Africans and one Nigerian Orlando Pirates superstar Relebohile Mofokeng in the Betway Premiership Soweto derby against Kaizer Chiefs. Image: IOL 'Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana winger Relebohile Mofokeng has attracted the interest of Israeli giants Maccabi Haifa and Maccabi Tel Aviv,' iDiski Times reported. Spotted: New player with Kaizer Chiefs senior team 'Haifa has been tracking the 20-year-old for the past season and are aiming to lure him from the club to bolster their strike for the new season after finishing third in the league behind Tel Aviv and champions Hapoel Be'er Sheva. 'With UEFA Conference League football on offer, it could be a tempting next step for the promising attacker of Pirates, who will be keen to test himself out of the Premier Soccer League, should the clubs reach an agreement. 'Word is, though, they could face competition from rivals Tel Aviv, who have also taken up interest in Mofokeng after his impressive performances for Bafana and in the CAF Champions League this past campaign,' the report added. According to the Israeli outlet Sport5, the Buccaneers expect 1.5 million Euros for Mofokeng's services. 'Orlando Pirates [are] demanding about 1.5 million euros (approx. R31.2 million) for the 20-year-old talent, as well as a percentage of any future sale,' the publication said. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.

IOL News
3 hours ago
- IOL News
As stinking-rich Mamelodi Sundowns become richer, implications for Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates profound
While Sundowns have been in the US, chairman Tlhopie Motsepe (with trophy) outlined ambitious plans to invest in local talent development and expand essential infrastructure. Photo: BackpagePix Image: BackpagePix Straight Talk Column by Herman Gibbs Mamelodi Sundowns will receive an impressive R174 million just for participating in the 2025 Fifa Club World Cup, as well as R36 million for each victory during the group stage. This substantial financial injection will enable Sundowns to easily maintain and enhance their stronghold in the Premier Soccer League (PSL), ensuring their ongoing dominance in domestic football. However, this development is rather ominous for the PSL's two glamour teams, Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates. Both clubs boast a rich history and monumental fan-bases, often highlighted by the 'sold out' Soweto Derbies, where passion and rivalry ignite stadiums. Chiefs and Pirates have also enjoyed the thrill of several capacity crowds over the past two seasons. Until recently, Chiefs have not won a trophy in a decade, but they continue to attract lucrative sponsorships based on their pulling power, despite dwindling crowds. Yet, as Sundowns' dominance continues to grow, these storied franchises appear increasingly destined to remain in the shadows of their Chloorkop rivals. Sundowns' motto, 'The sky is the limit', reflects a commitment to transcend the traditional boundaries of sporting success. Their emblem – a hand poised with a finger pointing skyward – symbolises an aspiration that knows no limitations, whether rooted in historical performance or geographical challenges. The tragedy of the situation is that Chiefs and Pirates have shown no ambition to reclaim their lost glory, and will remain ensnared in the slipstream of Sundowns' relentless pursuit of excellence. There is no evidence that the 'Soweto Giants' will rise to challenge Masandawana or continue to watch from the shadows. While Sundowns have been in the United States, the club's chairman, Tlhopie Motsepe, outlined the Brazilians' ambitious plans to invest in local talent development and expand essential infrastructure. At the heart of this vision is the establishment of a world-class academy aimed at nurturing home-grown talent. Motsepe emphasised that the goal is to ensure the finest local players do not have to look overseas to join the ranks of prestigious European clubs. He spoke about an academy that stands toe-to-toe with Europe's elite institutions. He also highlighted the urgent need for robust infrastructure, notably the club's aspiration to build a stadium, noting the benefits of having a dedicated venue as a home ground. On the playing field, the Fifa Club World Cup will be a game-changer for the South African players wearing the famous Brazilian-inspired jerseys. They will face opponents with distinctive playing styles and strategies, propelling the team into uncharted territory. They will step onto the pitch against European powerhouse Borussia Dortmund and South American heavyweights Fluminense, and each match presents an invaluable opportunity for growth and development. Every match will serve as a test of skill and a rite of passage, transporting Sundowns from regional dominance to global contenders. With each opponent presenting a fresh challenge, the club has the chance to elevate its playing standards, an evolution that could define its legacy on the international stage. In their next two group matches, Sundowns will confront the blistering speed of Germany's Dortmund and the intricate ball control epitomised by Brazil's Fluminense.