EXCLUSIVE: Paulo Duarte ready for PSL challenge after initially turning down 'invitation from major South African club' - 'Orlando Pirates is certainly one of them'

Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro confirmed recently that he will not be part of the team after the end of the ongoing campaign.

The Spaniard has been serving the Buccaneers since the 2022-23 season.

However, he is keen on getting a new challenge after helping the Soweto giants get back to the top of Mzansi football.

Paulo Duarte is a free agent and has knowledge when it comes to African football.

He has initially coached Burkina Faso, Togo, and Gabon. Duarte has also managed some top clubs like Le Mans, Sfaxien, Agosto, and Al-Kholood.

However, his main ambition has been to get a chance to manage a team in South Africa.

He has revealed he had an offer from a top Premier Soccer League team a couple of years ago, but he had a project he had to finish.

"Orlando Pirates is a top club, and if a proposal were to come, I would analyse the possibility," he told GOAL.

"I value [the Premier Soccer League] highly — very competitive, with great clubs and talented players. South African players have very distinctive characteristics: they’re irreverent and energetic. In the past, I did receive an invitation from a major South African club.

"But at the time I was working with the Burkina Faso national team on a World Cup qualification project, and it wasn’t the right moment to leave.

"There are great clubs in South Africa that can convince many coaches both financially and in terms of sporting ambition — and Pirates is certainly one of them," Duarte concluded.

Riveiro has set the bar high at Bucs, and whoever comes in has to fit in fast.

This season, the Buccaneers hope to defend their Nedbank Cup crown, win the Caf Champions League and beat Mamelodi Sundowns to the league title.

They have already lifted the MTN8 title earlier this season.