Former Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro was emotional when he bid farewell to his former players after his last game in charge of the side.
This was revealed by the footage of episode 4 of the on-going docu-series Giants airing on Mzansi Magic and SuperSport PSL channel 202 aimed at showing personal lives of players, their families, their faith and performances from the previous season. Riveiro enjoyed a successful two and half year stint at Pirates where he won five domestic Cup titles, helped the side finish second in the league and also reach the semi-finals of the CAF Champions League.
The club had announced the coach’s departure would be at the end of the campaign but he asked to be released early so he could join his new side Al Ahly who at the time were preparing for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
The Spaniard’s emotions were captured in the dressing room after the 3-0 win over Golden Arrows where he told players how much they have changed his life.
“I tried the whole day,” said Riveiro.
“A way to forgive me for not being here until the end, until the very last [game] I promise you, I tried everything in order to make it possible. You changed my life f******. You did honestly.
“I came here with a Eurocentric vision of the life, Eurocentric vision of the world. I didn’t have a clue about Africa. I didn’t have a clue, even less about South Africa.
“This is a life changer for me. My life, like I said already many times, is not going to be the same anymore and it’s because of you. It’s because of all of you.
“I tried my best to understand you, to understand your culture, to try to understand the way you think, the way you see the life, and not the way I did. And that’s why I am saying, that my life is not going to be the same because now I can also see the life with your eyes, not only with mine.”
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