Ex-Orlando Pirates coach José Riveiro has dismissed claims that he left the club for family reasons.
Before his departure in mid-May, there were reports that he was homesick and wanted to return to his home country, Spain.
Riveiro, however, has remained on the African continent with Egyptian club Al Ahly, with whom he has signed a two-year contract.
Speaking to Andile Ncube on Metro FM’s Sports Night Amplified With Andile (SNAWA) on Thursday night, Riveiro explained his decision to jump off the Buccaneers ship.
“No, that was a little bit of a strange narrative about my decision. I’ve never said I’m going because of the distance, family things, and stuff like that,” said Riveiro from Miami, USA, where Al Ahly are in camp ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup.
“It was more about feeling that my time in the club, you know, was a really good one for all of us, and it was time for me, and I think it’s also positive for Pirates to continue in a different way, try to find a different challenge, and for the club to also find someone to continue the journey, to take the team to the next level as well, and for me to find a place where I can continue with my formation with the possibility to challenge myself in a different environment.
“(Al) Ahly is also a club that gives you the platform to continue, you know, growing and winning, and I think it’s a good step for me. It was by far the best option I had to continue with my development in the time that I had to make a decision, and that’s all, that’s all. In the end, the distance from your own country and from your family can be a problem, but it’s not the only one. I mean, in the end, in my position, when you think about taking your family with you, it is not an easy decision that is not related, trust me, to the distance. It’s more about our role in the club. The possibility that you change maybe your family life, but in the end, maybe after two months, you have to be back [home].”
Riveiro concluded, “So, I’m used to being alone. I’m used to being far from everything. I’m used to concentrating in my job, and that’s what I do, and that’s what I’m going to do here in Ahly as well.”
