Bafana Bafana and Kaizer Chiefs legend Doctor Khumalo has explained why he believes head coach Jose Riveiro should have stayed with Orlando Pirates as he lasted just seven matches in Egypt.
Al Ahly confirmed on Sunday that they had parted ways with Riveiro, who joined in May after cutting short his stay at Pirates, where his contract was up for expiry at the end of June.
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However, things quickly turned sour, starting at the FIFA Club World Cup, where the side were knocked out in the group stage, before enjoying a less-than-ideal start to the EGyptian Premier League campaign.
Compounding his woes was a 2-0 loss to rivals and African champions Pyramids FC on Saturday.
Riveiro had been offered a contract extension by Bucs prior to his exit, but opted to turn it down with the move to Al Ahly, where he was set to earn considerably more, also on the table.
Speaking on SABC Sport's Soccer Zone, Khumalo insists it was a mistake to turn down the extension offer at the club where he won five trophies since joining at the beginning of the 2022/23 season.
"Well, I guess in my opinion, he should have [signed the contract extension] because he was given what, five years? And remember, when he was at Pirates, he enjoyed a successful tenure with Orlando Pirates, winning five trophies. So, the future was bright there," notes the former playmaker.
"But one thing I can tell you for sure is that Al Ahly are like mosquitoes because they drink successful coaches' blood.
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"When you start to be successful in Africa, they grab you, and then after that, two or three weeks, you are out. So, I mean, it is a lesson to other coaches to be wary of that."
Meanwhile, following a shaky start to the campaign that saw them lose their two opening matches, Pirates are finding their feet and have collected three wins from five league matches under new head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou.
They are also in the final of the MTN8, where they face Stellenbosch FC at Mbombela Stadium on 13 September.
