Former Orlando Pirates coach to join our neighbours?

Orlando Pirates supporters know the man very well. Kosta Papic is reportedly a target for the Zimbabwe national side.

ORLANDO PIRATES LEGEND KOSTA PAPIC TO COACH ZIMBABWE

The Zimbabwe Football Association is leaving it a bit late. Following Baltermar Brito’s departure in December 2023, the Warriors are without a coach ahead of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers in June. According to new reports, former Orlando Pirates coach Kosta Papic could be the next man.

“FARPost sources have revealed that the Serbian is keen to accept the Warriors head coach job. Nothing has been completed yet, but it appears the 63-year-old is the ultimate target,” the outlet reported.

THREE PLAYERS OUT OF ROYAL AM MATCH

Orlando Pirates will play against Royal AM on Sunday without three reliable players: Sipho Chaine, Miguel Timm and Deon Hotto.

Goalkeeper Chaine, Hotto at left fullback, and Timm in midfield have started the Sea Robbers’ last three matches, in which Orlando Pirates scored 12 goals and conceded three. Those were the 7-1 win over Golden Arrows, the 4-2 win over AmaZulu in the Nedbank Cup, and the 1-0 win over the same AmaZulu in the DStv Premiership.

Due to four accumulated yellow cards, coach Jose Riveiro has learned that Chaine, Hotto and Timm have been suspended for Sunday’s game in Pietermaritzburg against Royal AM.

CONFIDENT JOSE RIVEIRO

Speaking to the media about the situation, the Orlando Pirates coach expressed calm and confidence in his squad of available players.

“I am not thinking too much about players who’ll be missing. We have 38 players in the squad,” Riveiro said via The Sowetan.

“Eighty percent are available to play in a good momentum, so if we get yellow, we get yellow, and if it’s the fourth one, it’s the fourth one; we go to the next game because we have many players ready to go and everyone is going to be needed at this stage of the season.

TSHEGOFATSO MABASA FLYING FOR ORLANDO PIRATES

The Orlando Pirates coach also took a moment to salute the man of the moment: Tshegofatso Mabasa.

“He [Mabasa] is one more piece in our structure, an important one right now. I am happy when the players, especially the forwards, are delivering goals.

“I am happier when they take responsibility in the last metres. He’s constantly offering us all the options and possibilities for the players around him… for our No 10s. He helps us to be aggressive when we press because he’s our first defender of the team when we don’t have the ball,” the Orlando Pirates mentor added.

“He’s also doing well because the ones who are behind him, the ones who are not playing recently, are training very well and they are putting pressure and want to play as well. In the end, only one [striker] can play but this is a team and everybody is working to make it possible,” Riveiro concluded.

Orlando Pirates’ game against Royal AM will kick off on Sunday at 15:00 from the Harry Gwala Stadium. A win by two goals or more will lift the Buccaneers to second place above Stellenbosch FC.