Orlando Pirates coacj Jose Riveiro still beleives his team can win the Betway Premiership.
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José Riveiro is an optimistic coach. As such, his ability to overcome adversaries makes him believe Orlando Pirates can still challenge for the title.
Pirates are currently the second-best team in the Betway Premiership, as they sit second in the standings. The Buccaneers trail log leaders and defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns, who have played four games more, by 18 points as the league heads into the final stretch.
Sure, games in hand are not guaranteed points, but Pirates could trim that gap to six points if they win all their rescheduled matches. They could further reduce the gap to just three points if they beat Sundowns, who will visit them at FNB Stadium on Sunday (3.30pm kick-off).
Some pundits, however, believe the title is already out of reach for Pirates, given that Sundowns have already beaten them this season and boast a potent striking unit.
Be that as it may, Riveiro remains unfazed. The Spaniard has been at the club for almost three seasons, during which his team has achieved the improbable. Pirates have won five trophies out of seven, including an unprecedented MTN8 three-peat, while also reaching the CAF Champions League quarter-finals for the first time since 2013.
That’s why Riveiro points to the team’s achievements and belief as the driving force behind their pursuit of a first league title since 2012.
“First of all, my players — knowing what they are capable of doing, their willingness to compete, how hungry they are, and our capacity as a technical team to help them,” he said of his belief.
“There’s nothing around us that should make us feel negative about our chances of still challenging for the title. If you look at our performances in every competition, we’ve been one of the best teams in Pirates’ history.
“It’s up to you whether you want to see it that way, but that’s how we see it. It’s not even up for discussion — the numbers and performances speak for themselves. So, why should we look at the challenge any differently? We must be positive because we have reasons to be — not because I’m trying to motivate my people, but because it’s a fact.”
Pirates are trailing Sundowns by a significant margin due to various postponements of their games. That’s why Riveiro believes they still have control over their fate.
“You can look at the games we’ve played in the league and compare them to those played by the team at the top of the log,” he said.
“The standings are misleading. But still, everything is possible and remains in our hands. We must perform at the level the challenge requires, but there’s still a lot to be said.”
Pirates didn’t win their last two trophies — the Nedbank Cup and MTN8 — by fluke. They had to come from behind to beat Sundowns and Stellenbosch in the finals. And while those heroics have earned them the title of ‘cup kings’, Riveiro insists that the fire in their belly doesn’t allow them to give up when the going gets tough.
“It’s my responsibility — it’s why I’m sitting here and what the club expects from me,” Riveiro explained.
“You’ve been around long enough, and you know these guys and I are a different breed. This is what we love — we love to compete and face challenges.”
The challenge Sundowns will pose on Sunday could have a major influence on where the league title ends up in May. However, Riveiro is focused on the bigger picture.
“Not at all (it’s not a title decider). It’s just one more game — an opportunity to collect three points and finish this part of the season in a better position,” he said.
“It’s a chance to build confidence for all the challenges we’ll face in the final stretch of the season as a team and a club, which is not a minor thing. There are also special games to come after the Fifa break, so all those factors make this game special.
"That’s all!”