Too Little, Too Late? Orlando Pirates stars Tapelo Xoki, Deon Hotto and coach Mandla Ncikazi plead with Jose Riveiro to renew Bucs' contract - 'It won't sit well with many of us for him to leave'

The uncertainty around the Spaniard's future intensifies by the day since his deal is set to end in a matter of months.

Chippa United

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AmaZulu FC

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• Riveiro's contract set to expire
• He signed for Bucs' three seasons ago
• Calls for him to stay

• WHAT HAPPENED?

• Orlando Pirates assistant coach Mandla Ncikazi, as well as defender Tapelo Xoki and midfielder Deon Hotto, have pleaded with head coach Jose Riveiro to renew his contract with the club.
• Riveiro's contract is understood to expire in the next few months, and the three want the Spaniard to extend it in order to remain with the Soweto giants for long.
• Riveiro joined the club three seasons ago, and his reign has been marked with some success. Citing what has been achieved so far, Ncikazi, Xoki, and Hotto want the Riveiro-Pirates union to remain intact.
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• WHAT NCIKAZI, HOTTO AND XOKI SAID

• "Whether the coach leaves or stays at the end of the current season is anybody's guess at the moment. Working in football is like checking in at a hotel. Others stay for one day, others stay for two days, others stay for a month - but at the end, we all check out! I do have my personal wishes; if the project works so well, why should it be spoiled? But let's keep the hopes high and also trust the vision of our management that they will always take the right decision," Mandla Ncikazi said on Bucs Camp Documentary.
• "We've built a strong powerhouse in terms of the team that we have assembled over the last three years, and it won't sit well with many of us for him to leave, and it will unsettle a lot of things. I hope he doesn't leave," Tapelo Xoki said.
• "To be honest and sincere, it's not something that is hindering us at the moment because our main focus is all about us achieving what we wanted to achieve at the start of the season," Deon Hotto stated.

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

• Riveiro's future is set to attract massive speculation as the season progresses to the end.
• This speculation comes at a time Pirates are preparing for crucial assignments ahead. They have a Caf Champions League quarter-final match against MC Alger coming up as well as the Nedbank Cup semi-final against Marumo Gallants.
• In the Premier Soccer League (PSL), they are second and have a remote dream of winning it.
• The players have, however, assured that the talk of their coach's future will not distract them from the vital assignments coming up.
• During his time with the Sea Robbers, Riveiro has won five trophies.