Riveiro on how Pirates can challenge Sundowns for league title
Orlando Pirates trail Mamelodi Sundowns by 14 points but coach Jose Riveiro remains confident they can still challenge for the league.
As they trail Mamelodi Sundowns by 14 points, Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro remains confident they can still catch the DStv Premiership log leaders and challenge for the league.
The Pirates Spanish manager, Riveiro says despite the loss to Sundowns at Orlando Stadium on Wednesday night, they can still challenge for the league title.
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Sundowns and Pirates played at a packed Orlando Stadium as coach Rulani Mokwena claimed a 1-0 win through Lucas Ribeiro’s penalty strike.
RIVEIRO ON HOW PIRATES CAN CATCH SUNDOWNS
Speaking after an entertaining match, the reigning MTN8 and Nedbank Cup winner with Pirates, Riveiro expressed confidence in closing the gap on Sundowns.
This comes as Sundowns managed to maintain their impressive unbeaten run in the league as they clinched their seventh win of the new season.
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“We have to play 25 more games in the league, that’s 75 points to play,” Riveiro responded via Sowetan.
At the same time, Sundowns successfully matched the 31-match unbeaten record that was held by Kaizer Chiefs since 2005 and will look to retain their league title they have won for the past six seasons.
RIVEIRO ON PIRATES’ FAILURE TO CONTAIN DOWNS
Riveiro failed to return to winning ways as they were licking their wounds heading to the match following a 1-0 loss to Jwaneng Galaxy, reacted on Sundowns tactics.
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He also praised his men for a gallant display in the second stanza as they kept Sundowns on the back foot despite not having a good first half.
“I think you are right, it is difficult to contain Sundowns when they are in possession in the last line with Peter Shalulile, it is difficult to deal with them,” he added.
“It is difficult to press them high aggressively and you have to be careful when you lose the ball and the possession. It looked a bit tactical at the beginning of the game.
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“I think we managed to force Ronwen Williams and Mothobi Mvala to play long balls three or four times but those are easy when you have Peter and Ribeiro, they are good.
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“They were even better at collecting the second ball. We didn’t start the way we wanted, let’s put it this way.”
Riveiro and Pirates will turn their focus to the Wafa Wafa contest as they are expected to welcome Stellenbosch in the semi-final second leg on Sunday.