Jose Riveiro, coach of Orlando Pirates during the 2023 MTN8 Semi Final 2nd Leg match against Stellenbosch at the Orlando Stadium, Soweto on Sunday. (Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix)
Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro is looking on the bright side of three defeats in a week, after the Buccaneers reached the final of the MTN8 on Sunday despite losing 1-0 at home to Stellenbosch in the second leg of their MTN8 semifinal.
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Pirates will now face Mamelodi Sundowns in the final at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on 7 October.
Pirates were also beaten 1-0 by Jwaneng Galaxy in the first leg of their Caf Champions League group stage qualifier in Gaborone the previous weekend and lost a DStv Premiership match 1-0 at home to Sundowns last Wednesday.
The Soweto giants, however, have a chane to turn the Galaxy result around on Friday when they play the second leg in Orlando, and there is still plenty of time left in the race for the DStv Premiership title, as well as the chance to defend their MTN8 title.
“A week ago people said we are playing amazing football, this one (player) is a magician, this one is a GOAT (an acronym for Greatest of All Time) this one is good looking!” said Riveiro, pointing out that Pirates were in fine form before this run of losses.
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“If on Friday we can get a (good) result we are fine, we will go through. We lost (to Stellenbosch) but we are the team in the final. That is what counts, I don’t take it as a defeat even though it is a defeat in the records…. and there are still 25 games to go in the league. I am a very optimistic person and I think everything will be alright.”
Riveiro did add that he feels Pirates need to get used to playing these kinds of important matches back-to-back-to-back.
“Friday is a massive game for us (against Jwaneng) it is an opportunity to go to the group stage of the Caf Champions League.”
