Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro is thrilled with the luxury afforded to his team ahead of a massive test against Egyptian and African giants Al Ahly at the weekend.
The Sea Robbers host the Red Devils in a Caf Champions League match at Orlando Stadium in Soweto on Saturday at 15:00.
The two sides have made a great start in Group C, with leaders Ahly beating Stade d’Abidjan while Riveiro’s men returned home with maximum points from their battle against CR Belouizdad in Algeria.
But Riveiro and his men were humbled on their return to South Africa with a 1-0 defeat to Stellenbosch FC, their first loss in the Betway Premiership this season.
However, there’s no time for the Buccaneers to lick their wounds as they have another important meeting ahead.
Speaking after the loss, Riveiro appreciated having time to sharpen his tools before facing the 12-time African champions.
“This period is a luxury to have four days plus a day of recovery which gives us five days to prepare for the game as well as possible,” Riveiro said.
“Obviously, now we are looking to the future and the next game is going to be something else.
“We are going to be tested at a very high level, and we will face the week with a good attitude, motivation and illusion to offer a good performance on Saturday here against Al Ahly.
“Having those days and the possibility to rest is giving us an extra to make sure there are no excuses that on Saturday we can be on a level that the competition requires, and opposition will ask,” he said.
Pirates will draw some confidence from the fact that Ahly have never won a match in South Africa before.
The Red Devils have played 15 times on South African soil, drew nine times and lost the other six fixtures.
Pirates hosted the Egyptians three times before, won once and drew the other two games.
Other local teams that hosted Ahly, who have Bafana Bafana star Percy Tau in their arsenal, in South Africa are Mamelodi Sundowns, Ajax Cape Town (now Cape Town Spurs), SuperSport United, Platinum Stars and Bidvest Wits.
Sundowns have played the most games against Ahly at home, seven times. The other sides, excluding Pirates, have had a single encounter with African champions.
