Orlando Pirates have announced another big twist on the exit of head coach Jose Riveiro, about whom it has become public knowledge that he will be leaving the club at the expiry of his three-year deal.
In a statement published on the club's website on Monday morning, it was confirmed Riveiro will serve as head coach for the final time when Pirates host Golden Arrows at Orlando Stadium on Tuesday.
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"Jose approached us a few weeks ago with a request to be released from his contract ahead of schedule, having signed with a new club," shared club chairman, Dr. Irvin Khoza.
"Given the timing, amidst a series of crucial fixtures, we believed it was best to delay this announcement until after the Nedbank Cup Final. His contribution since joining the Club has been immense. We learned a lot from him, and he learned a lot from us.
"While we would have preferred to formally honour him with a proper send-off, we fully respect his decision to depart before the end of his tenure."
The club also confirmed that assistant coach Mandla Ncikazi will thereafter take over as interim head coach for the remainder of the season. He will be assisted by head performance analyst Rayaan Jacobs and the rest of the technical and support staff.
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The move could also be considered a signal of the Soweto giants' forfeiture in the title race, with Mameloid Sundowns needing just one point to seal an eighth league title.
Pirates are 15 points behind the log leaders and even with their three matches in hand, the possibility of overtaking the Chloorkop-basedpoints machine is next to nothing.
