Timm: Riveiro was smart to realize it's not gonna work

Former Orlando Pirates midfielder Miguel Timm has revealed how former coach Jose Riveiro solved problems of playing with a back-three, a system that was difficult for Bafana Bafana to execute at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Bafana head coach Hugo Broos and his technical team received a big amount of criticism particularly in their opening match against Mexico, where they lined up in an unfamiliar system that had three centre-backs and wing-backs. READ | How Timm was stolen by Pirates South Africa could not get out of their half for most of the first stanza, as the players struggled to combine going forward, conceded two goals and went on to lose 2-0. Timm has recounted how Riveiro also started his reign at Pirates with a similar back-three formation but realized early in the season that it was not going to work. "I remember clearly, because that's the system he brought from where he was, he built his philosophy around that (back three), I think we did adapt to what he wanted but I remember clearly it didn't work, we struggled in the beginning of the season," Timm said on I Diski Dine YouTube Channel. "I think we lost to Chippa (United) at Orlando (Stadium), I think Daine (Klate) was coaching, it was exciting because there were new players but I think he was smart enough to realize, that 'the way I'm doing it, it's not gonna work' and so he adjusted accordingly. READ | Ex-Pirates striker: Mofokeng was just happy for his move "He profiled players differently, he added dimensions to players they never knew they had, which improved them, instead of us adapting to what he wants, he was flexible in his approach, you see Sipho (Chaine) doing build ups now, that instead of a back-three you move the keeper forward, that was one of his solutions; another one was moving one wing-back inside, if one of them is comfortable on the ball, it's a back three again, move the midfielder back (another example), very simple information but very helpful," Timm explained. Riveiro, currently in charge of AIK, is one of the coaches favoured by some sections of supporters to one day be in charge of Bafana, after his impressive near three-year spell, where he delivered five trophies for The Buccaneers and a consistent playing philosophy of attacking football.