Riveiro: If We Miss Out on the League Title, We’ll Focus on Next Season

Orlando Pirates’ head coach, Jose Riveiro, recognizes that the league title race will be intense, stating that should the Buccaneers fall short this season, they will target success in the following year.

The Pirates claimed a 2-1 victory against Mamelodi Sundowns in the Betway Premiership match at FNB Stadium on Sunday, revitalizing their hopes of securing the league title.

Promising young player Relebohile Mofokeng scored two quick goals for the Mighty Buccaneers in the first half.

Following the match, the Spanish coach expressed his contentment, pointing out that they showcased their strength to doubters; however, he stressed that a considerable part of the season remains, and the battle for the league title will be tough.

“I mentioned prior to the match that it’s merely three points, but in encounters like this, people often classify it as a six-point game. This is because when we play and either come away with a win or not, you go back into the locker room to check if the team ahead of you has secured a favorable outcome,” Riveiro remarked.

“On Sunday, we recognized that we had achieved the results we aimed for, and I was quickly aware that the team we are chasing did not earn any points. This gives us a chance to narrow the gap, but the road ahead is still long.

“We are up against a team that is used to racking up a significant amount of points. I am optimistic that if we maintain the level required for the challenge, we will have a competitive race. We plan to show throughout the season’s conclusion that we can meet the expectations set for all teams in the league.

“Let’s see if we can realize this goal, and if we fall short by the season’s end, we’ll regroup and aim for next season. That’s the essence of football and life; we will keep working diligently every week, and I am pleased that we demonstrated on Sunday that we are serious contenders.”

Currently, Sundowns lead the Betway Premiership with 58 points after 23 matches, while Pirates have gathered 43 points, with four matches still left to play, offering them a chance to close the gap. The last occasion the Pirates lifted the league trophy was in the 2011/12 season under Augusto Palacios, during which they also achieved a treble and secured two league cups.