JOSE Riveiro has downplayed talk of Orlando Pirates being the team to beat next season, but the coach has vowed that they’ll be competitive in every competition.
Pirates will start their MTN8 title defence when they host SuperSport United in the quarter-finals at Orlando Stadium on Saturday (6pm kick-off).
But while a win in that match will see them edge closer to their third MTN8 crown in a row, ‘The Ghost’ want them to go for the jugular and challenge for the league title.
They believe that the door is open for them to knock defending Premiership champions Mamelodi Sundowns off their perch.
Sundowns have ruled the land for seven successive seasons, while Pirates were the closest team to challenge them in the last two campaigns after finishing as runners-up.
However, there’s been a reshuffling phase at Sundowns in the technical team during the ongoing pre-season, with the club having sacked coach Rulani Mokwena.
The Brazilians have since elevated Manqoba Mngqithi to head coach on an interim basis, while Steve Komphela and Romain Folz have returned and joined the back-room staff respectively.
Some experts and naysayers are speaking in one voice, saying that the sacking of Mokwena and the assembling of a new technical team will bring nothing but chaos at Sundowns going forward.
But Riveiro begs to differ. The Spaniard, speaking on the sidelines of the MTN8 launch at the SABC radio studios in Auckland Park in Johannesburg yesterday, explained why.
“The team to beat is Sundowns,” the Pirates coach said.
“They are the current champions, and we all wish to be there in one year – be the team that everyone wants to beat. But we must be humble and understand that the level of the task is not going to be easy.
“We are stable in terms of the squad and staff, but we are all starting from zero. Every team has zero points, and the MTN8 is only starting now in the quarter-finals, so there are a lot of things to do before we can start talking about winning and not winning.”
Pirates are indeed stable. Except for releasing some seniors including Siyabonga Mpontsane, and the resignation of assistant coach Sergio Almenara, they’ve kept the bulk of their squad.
Pirates have only made one marquee signing during the winter transfer window, adding Angolan attacker Deivi Miguel Vieira to their squad.
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Gilberto, as Vieira is affectionately known, was with the team during their pre-season tour of Spain, and he got to know his new technical team and teammates up close and personal.
Riveiro is pleased with his team’s preparations for the start of the new season, and he admits that there are expectations for them to win every game, starting against tough customers SuperSport.
“I am coaching Orlando Pirates, so the expectations must be really high for everyone – not because we won (trophies last season), but we have to fight for every opportunity to win,” he said.
“This time is the MTN8, and we have a unique opportunity to defend the title for the second time. We must go game-by-game and respect our next opponent.
“SuperSport are not a joke, like I said before. They are going to be a rough opponent at Orlando one more time.”
Pirates’ personnel are not only expected to compete collectively, but individually as well.
With Riveiro having won a back-to-back double at the club, he and his players are expected to do better next term.
When it comes to the players, most of the attention will be given to Patrick Maswanganyi, though.
‘Tito’, as Maswanganyi is affectionately known, had an impressive debut stint at Pirates last season.
His exploits also caught the eyes of Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos and experts, after he walked away with multiple gongs at the PSL end-of-season awards.
Riveiro, though, has advised what Maswanganyi and Co need to do to ensure that they continue to build on last season’s foundation and get better.
“Memories in football are very short, so it’s always about the last game. The players must focus on the upcoming game, and not what we did in the past,” Riveiro said.
“Tito, and everyone around him, must look forward. We are trying to build a competitive team and fight for each title that’ll be up for grabs.”