It has been revealed how former AmaZulu FC tactician Pablo Franco Martin almost became a Buccaneers coach even before Jose Riveiro was introduced to the South African football fraternity.
According to sources close to Pirates, the club eventually decided against appointing Martin, a decision that opened the door for Riveiro, who went on to bring five trophies to Bucs in three seasons.
READ: Kadodia reveals plans to stay afloat in Betway Prem
“Pablo almost became an Orlando Pirates coach! The team had scouted him before Jose Riveiro’s appointment. The only thing that worked against him was Simba SC losing against the same Pirates in the quarterfinals.
"After carefully watching his team over the two legs, the consensus was that, ‘No, this is not what we want,’ and that’s how the team stopped pursuing him. He was almost a Pirates coach before he joined AmaZulu FC.
"There were club administrators who had been following his progress and kept in regular contact with him,” revealed a mole close to the former double treble champions.
“If Simba had beaten Pirates that year, I can rest you assured that Pablo would have signed with Pirates at the end of that season! That’s how close he was to joining the club, but after careful consideration, the club decided to abandon the whole thing.
"I can safely say the man really came very close to joining Bucs. In all likelihood, coach Pablo would have been a Pirates coach if he’d won both legs of the quarterfinal, but a lot has changed since then and I hear he’s been linked with the club again,” confirmed a second insider.
READ | PSL club boss: We have accepted the decision
The two teams met in the quarterfinals of the CAF Confederation Cup in April 2022 with Simba winning the first leg 1-0 and Bucs returning the favour with the same scoreline in the second leg at Orlando Stadium. The game was eventually won by the South African team 4-3 in the penalty shoot-out.
With Riveiro having since joined Al Ahly, leaving Pirates in search of his replacement, coach Martin’s name has, once again, been linked with a potential move to the Soweto giants. It remains to be seen who will take over from the ‘Spanish Guitar’.
Watch this space!
Photo: Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images
