Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro has aired his views and analysis on the tactical ability of SA coaches in the PSL.
With SAFA’s technical director Walter Steenbok recently claiming that PSL clubs are ‘crippling SA football by employing unqualified coaches’, Riveiro has suggested that PSL tacticians are haphazard.
In the DStv Premiership, 13 of the 16 coaches are South African, with Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena leading the way in terms of success in the 2022/23 season.
The young Soweto-born coach, Mokwena, has guided Sundowns to their sixth straight league title with eight games to spare.
He is also a student of the game as he is one of a few local coaches in possession of the UEFA A Coaching License, along with his senior coach at Sundowns Manqoba Mngqithi.
It is also worth bearing in mind that since the 2016/17 campaign, only SA coaches have managed to clinch the league title.
Riveiro, who joined Pirates at the beginning of the season, believes that SA coaches are inconsistent in their tactical aptitude.
Jose Riveiro’s THOUGHTS ON SA COACHES IN THE PSL
“There were games that were really tactical, and there are others that were not tactical at all,” said Riveiro.
“What I noticed is that there are always moments in games in the PSL that are very difficult to control from the coach’s perspective.
“For the fans, it might be more fun because there are chances [created]. The games are very quick, side to side. But for me, as a coach, sometimes I suffer in those moments. Still, because of the quality we have, those moments are usually good for us on that side to side.
“When we have the opportunity to push, we punish [the opposition]. So the way they [SA coaches] approach games, it is a bit different than in Europe. I’m not going to lie.
“But there are games that were complicated from the tactical perspective, I’m not the one to evaluate my colleagues, but there is talent also on the bench in the PSL, it is not a discussion.”
The Spaniard walked away with the PSL Coach of the Month award for April after leading to half-a-dozen league wins on the spin.
He has already won a trophy in his maiden season in SA: the MTN8 and his troops are in the Nedbank Cup final, where they are set to face Sekhukhune United. In addition, Pirates are in pole position to qualify for the CAF Champions League.
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