Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro has expressed optimism about the team’s remaining fixtures of the season, despite the disappointing results in recent matches.
“Football in South Africa is kinda different compared to Europe, Goal-posts are much smaller here than that side”
Jose Riveiro on why Pirates has scored 9 goals so far this season pic.twitter.com/ZGIiJa8WR8
— MW (@MWTlali) January 6, 2023
The Buccaneers suffered a third straight loss on the weekend against Cape Town City in the DStv Premiership campaign, and have dropped to eighth on the standings.
Riveiro is confident that his side can turn things around and win all of their remaining matches to possibly qualify for the CAF Champions League. “It’s still 15 games to play so that’s a lot of points to play (for). The second part of the season is much more difficult not only for Pirates but for everyone in order to collect points.
There’s no reason to think that we cannot win 15 games. I’m optimistic, I’m not stupid I know how difficult the challenge is but we go into every game with the intention to win and let’s see at the end of the season where we are and if we finish the season satisfied with our position on the table with the amount of points and with the football that we are trying to play,” said Riveiro.
So far, Pirates have won five out of 15 matches played under Riveiro, and have scored just 10 goals.
The Spanish mentor remains determined to help the Soweto giants achieve their goals. “Obviously, we are not in the situation in terms of points that we would like to be, it goes without saying. None of us, players, coaches, fans I’m sure (are not happy) but we have a clear vision of the team that we want to be in future.
Sometimes it takes a bit more time but we are 100% sure about what we are doing and we have no doubts that we will get there sooner than later,” Riveiro concluded.
