From Buccaneer Hero to Cairo Casualty — Orlando Pirates Fans Say ‘We Told You So’
The words “Yena a ya kwini!”, loosely translated as “Where to now?”, have echoed across Orlando Pirates’ fan circles following the shock dismissal of their former coach José Riveiro by Egyptian giants Al Ahly.
Many Buccaneers supporters can’t help but feel vindicated. After all, Pirates had tabled a contract extension and expressed their faith in Riveiro. But the Spaniard’s eyes were set on Africa’s most decorated club and the lure of the global stage.
The gamble, however, backfired.
Ambition Meets Reality
For Riveiro, joining Al Ahly wasn’t a mistake in principle. The real miscalculation was the timing. Ahly came calling just before the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, a competition every coach dreams of experiencing.
Eager for the spotlight, Riveiro pushed for an early release from Pirates midway through the season. Chairman Irvin Khoza eventually agreed, allowing him to chase the big stage.
But while Riveiro may have viewed the Club World Cup as a bonus warm-up, Al Ahly’s fanbase saw it as a matter of pride. Expectations were sky-high, regardless of the draw against Porto, Palmeiras, and hosts Inter Miami.
Also read: Jose Riveiro to Become Africa’s Highest-Paid Coach with Al Ahly Move
A Winless Start in the US
Al Ahly’s campaign in the States was brutal. Riveiro’s side drew with Porto and Inter Miami and lost to Palmeiras. While hardly embarrassing results, the lack of victories was enough to unsettle the Red Devils’ faithful.
Back home, pressure mounted quickly. Riveiro’s Egyptian adventure began with just one win, two draws, and a 2-0 defeat to Pyramids FC. That loss proved to be the final straw.
Would he really have been sacked after just four domestic matches if not for the Club World Cup disappointment? Probably not. But at Al Ahly, excuses don’t last long.
The Harsh Reality of Ahly Culture
This episode highlights the cultural gulf between South African and Egyptian football. At Pirates, Riveiro was loved for cup successes, tactical discipline, and even famously knocking Al Ahly out of the CAF Champions League.
But in Cairo, the bar is higher. Every coach is under the microscope. Club legends openly questioned his credentials from the day he signed. And truth be told, they had ammunition: Riveiro never delivered the Betway Premiership title, the truest measure of consistency.
A Career Dent, Not the End
Despite the sting of an early dismissal, Riveiro leaves Egypt with more than just scars. He adds Al Ahly to his résumé and can say hestood,d however briefly on the FIFA Club World Cup stage.
In cold numbers: four domestic games, one win, two draws, one defeat. Hardly catastrophic, but not enough to satisfy a club obsessed with dominance.
For Pirates fans, the refrain “Yena a ya kwini!” is laced with irony. They had warned that ambition can sometimes overreach. Yet for Riveiro, this is unlikely to be the end. Expect his name to resurface soon whether in North Africa, Europe, or another ambitious project.
Because one thing is certain: José Riveiro remains a coach in demand, still ambitious, and still very much part of the game.
Related article: Al Ahly Show Former Pirates Coach Jose Riveiro the Door After Shocking Defeat
