sportskeeda
Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro is optimistic that the Buccaneers are in a strong position to achieve a treble this season and are determined to keep fighting until they reach their objectives.
The Buccaneers celebrated a 1-0 win over Marumo Gallants at Orlando Stadium on Sunday, securing their place in the Nedbank Cup final for the third year in a row.
This season, Pirates have already lifted the MTN8 Cup and have additional opportunities to gather more silverware as they continue to contest the Nedbank Cup, the Betway Premiership, and the CAF Champions League.
Following the Pirates’ victory against Bahlabane Ba Ntwa, Riveiro emphasized that their unbeaten status in the Champions League boosts their confidence in achieving their goals this season.
“The players’ ability to thrive in different circumstances this season brings us what no financial investment can provide in sports: confidence,” Riveiro stated.
“I am convinced that our team’s confidence is on the rise. I wouldn’t categorize today’s match as a risk game; we played with tenacity and confidence, even though we were fatigued.
“The experiences we are gathering together in various challenging situations are bolstering our team’s confidence this season, and our determination has made us a unified group.”
Pirates are now gearing up to face Kaizer Chiefs in the final at Moses Mabhida Stadium on May 10, with expectations that tickets will sell out quickly once released.
“We weren’t excited by the idea of extra time today because we performed excellently under the challenges we faced in the match,” Riveiro noted, highlighting that the last time his team went into extra time in a cup match was against SuperSport United during the MTN8 Cup quarterfinal last year.
“In the MTN8 match against SuperSport, we had to go into extra time, which is always a gamble. These matches can be tough, particularly if they progress to penalties.
“On Sunday, a single blunder could have resulted in a 1-1 scoreline, as the margins are very thin, especially with set pieces.
“However, we concentrated on preventing that from happening, understanding it could put us at a disadvantage. Luckily, we secured the victory within 90 minutes, allowing us to save our energy.”
This season marks Riveiro’s concluding year with the Buccaneers, during which he has led the club to five major trophies since his tenure began in 2022.
