Ouaddou’s league triumph puts him ahead of Riveiro, says Chikoya

Former Orlando Pirates left-back Innocent Chikoya believes Abdeslam Ouaddou has achieved more than his predecessor Jose Riveiro, despite Riveiro having won one more trophy during his time in charge.

Chikoya’s argument is based on the importance of the honours secured by each manager. While Riveiro’s reputation as a ‘cup specialist’ remains a significant part of his legacy, Chikoya says Ouaddou’s success in guiding Orlando Pirates to the league title places him above the Spaniard.

Ouaddou inherited the foundations laid by Riveiro but has also brought a more direct attacking approach to the team. The league triumph was particularly significant because Orlando Pirates had not won the title for more than 10 years.

“If you look at the statistics, I think Riveiro is ahead in terms of silverware won; at the moment, he has secured one more trophy than Ouaddou. However, that doesn’t surpass winning a league title,” Chikoya tells KickOff.

For Chikoya, the league remains the clearest measure of a team’s performance across a full season. He believes success in cup competitions can sometimes depend on luck, whereas winning the league requires sustained consistency over a much longer period.

“The league is the highest achievement. You only win the PSL title if you are performing well, while cup competitions can sometimes be won by luck. Sundowns have dominated for ten years, and imagine how many ten-year-old kids have only seen Sundowns winning it.

“So, Ouaddou has performed better; he secured the league after it hadn’t been won by the club for over ten years. He delivered something every Pirates supporter desired.

The comparison comes as Ouaddou begins to establish his own identity at Orlando Pirates. Although he started with the work completed under Riveiro, Chikoya says the new manager’s approach has helped distinguish his tenure from that of his predecessor.

Riveiro’s record still includes one more trophy than Ouaddou, according to Chikoya’s statistical comparison. However, that advantage is outweighed by the value he places on a league championship, which he describes as the most coveted prize in football.

Chikoya also referred to Gordon Igesund’s record as an example of the status attached to league success in the PSL. Igesund is widely regarded as one of the competition’s leading managers after winning the league five times.

“Gordon Igesund is regarded as one of the best coaches in the PSL because he has won the league five times. In his first season, Ouaddou has already won the league, and the league remains the most coveted trophy in football.”