New Orlando Pirates boss Jose Riviero has been backed to create a winning formula at the club after years of coaching at a high level.
The Soweto giants shocked many when they announced the little- known Spaniard as their new boss on Saturday.
Despite the disappointment from some sections of the Pirates fanbase, former South African footballer Ryan Botha, who had two stints at Riveiro’s previous employers FC Inter Turku in Finland, says the coach has the experience of coaching big clubs.
“He has worked at FC Inter and that is a strong club. If you have been coaching there for three years you will be someone with a good knowledge of the game because he has also been involved in the Uefa club competitions qualifiers, so he has competed at a high level. That counts,” Botha told KickOff.
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“He is someone who will be able to create a winning formula at Pirates because he is coming from very tough conditions in Finland, where it is cold.
“If the Pirates players embrace his philosophy, then we will be in for a fantastic show of football.
“He has also been with HJK [where he won the league twice as an assistant] which is the biggest club in Finland and competes in the Champions League qualifiers.
“So, he has been with two incredible huge clubs in Finland and that, for me, means you’ve got to give this man a chance to see what he will bring.
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“There is no need to be so negative about a guy that you don’t even know. I know we tend to all be critical and negative, but let him be given a chance because those that brought him saw something in him that will benefit the team.
“This guy could be the fresh energy that is needed in our football. Not all good coaches come with Jose Mourinho’s huge profile, so this might be a coach who blends into our culture.
“Finland is not a terrible league because they are a country with players in the English Premier League, Bundesliga, Serie A and Ligue 1,” said Botha, now in charge of Hout Bay United in the Western Cape ABC Motsepe League.
“The only difficulty will come with understanding the SA players and the culture because that is what most European coaches tend to struggle with,” Botha concluded.
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Source: AFP
Picture: Twitter/@Saidymaja
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