Riveiro Shares Insights on Sundowns’ Points Machine

On Tuesday, Orlando Pirates were held to a goalless draw by AmaZulu, continuing their slow start to the Premiership season. The Buccaneers, tipped as the most likely team to challenge Mamelodi Sundowns for the league title, find themselves in an unfamiliar 13th spot on the table, although they have at least two games in hand.

Head coach Jose Riveiro opened up on their struggles to catch up with Sundowns, saying that usually in the PSL, 60 odd points would be enough to win the league but suggested that fighting with Sundowns for the title is a unique difficulty.

“Orlando Pirates got 54 points last season in the league (Sundowns won the league with 70 points), you know much more than me about South African football but usually you get the championship with around 60, 61 (points) historically,” Riveiro said in a press conference.

The Spanish tactician, however, dismissed suggestions that they are having a bad campaign in the league already, as they are just two points above the relegation zone. “Six games in the league, are we going to do an analysis about our performance in the league after six games? Be patient, there’s still a long way to go,” he added.

Pirates are currently on eight points after six games and at this stage of the season last season, they had 11 points. The Buccaneers will be back in Premiership action when they host in-form Polokwane City on Friday evening.