So near and yet so far is the story of Orlando Pirates, whose compelling and admirable chase for Champions League glory collapsed in a crazy 96 minutes in Cairo’s 30 June Stadium.
Compelling because this campaign launched the senior career of Mohau Nkota, who belted a brazen brace in a banging announcement of his arrival on the African football scene aged 19. Seven months earlier, he had a neck injury in a Diski Development Challenge clash against Kaizer Chiefs that threatened to end his career.
With those goals in November in Algiers against Algerian side CR Belouizdad, Nkota became the Buccaneers’ biggest revelation, following hot on the heels of Relebohile Mofokeng, as the duo continued their teenage Cocomelon combination from the junior ranks to elite level.
Admirable because along the way they claimed notable scalps, including Al Ahly. Captivating because of the gallant manner they navigated a group stage route they finished sans defeat. Throw in Mbekezeli Mbokazi and you have a trio who’ve gained invaluable experience that will stand them in good stead in future endeavours.
The expedition exposed them and the collective team to high pressure environments against top opposition in a journey with a coach breaking his virginity in this territory.
Scarred by losing his first semifinal in almost three years at Pirates, Jose Riveiro has a chance to lessen the pain by signing off with the Nedbank Cup, seeing that the Betway Premiership title appears a far bet. Or is it?
When Riveiro disembarks
Which brings us to the question: which direction will the powers that be at Pirates take in deciding on the new captain to steer the Sea Robbers ship when Riveiro disembarks? In their search for the successor of the Spaniard should Bucs bosses cast their eyes to Europe?
In the past, Mamelodi Sundowns fished in European waters for coaches. They caught the big fish, or so they thought. All of Henri Michel, Hristo Stoichkov and Johan Neeskens, to name but three, arrived to great fanfare.
Much was expected from the procession of the European legion. But though big-name stars during their playing heyday, mainly for Barcelona, the managerial nous of Stoichkov and Neeskens delivered diddly-squat by way of silverware at Downs — their legacy a collection of cobwebs in the cabinet.
The Pirates cupboard was cluttered with similar spider artistry until they yanked an utterly unknown Riveiro from the rivers of Finland. The man derisively dismissed as a plumber (soccer-speak for useless coach) displayed adept “plumbing” with five trophies under his belt.
Sundowns were dwindling in the pits when Pitso Mosimane picked them up and breathed life that turned them into a beast. By the time his eight-year tenure ended, he had commandeered to a Champions League title in 2016 and turned them into an all crushing domestic bulldozer that grew into a formidable force commanding respect on the continental football chain.
He went on to win a truckload of trophies with Al Ahly (including two more Champions Leagues) to become the most successful African coach.
Another unknown European
Going for another unknown European does not guarantee Pirates a repeat of Riveiro’s rich returns. The two trophies The Ghost really crave is the league title, where the Spaniard has fallen short.
Mosimane, who also has three Super Cup feathers to his cap, is five times a PSL champion. He knows the lay of the land from the Cape to Cairo.
If they do not potentially get Mosimane, will Pirates persuade Rhulani Mokwena to make the club his next destination? I’ve heard some sections of The Ghost shooting down the idea of a Mokwena return to the club he served as assistant to Milutin Sredojevic and briefly took charge in an ill-fated stint before making history, being the first coach to be loaned to another club.
His period at Downs provided him a chance to prove his worth, particularly coming one defeat from completing a superb season when the club saw their quest for a dream invincible season shattered in the last match of the 2023/24 season.
The next man Pirates chairman Irvin Khoza and his crew choose will have a hard act to follow.
X — @bbkunplugged99
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