In one of his first interviews as Pirates coach, Jose Riveiro said,” I can’t make miracles, it’s not about me, it’s about the whole team.” 11 months later the Spaniard is on the verge of lifting his 2nd trophy while sitting second on the log table.
Orlando Pirates have three games in all competitions remaining of the 2022/23 PSL season. After beating Kaizer Chiefs to advance to the Nedbank cup final on Saturday, they remain on course to finish this campaign with a domestic double and R22.5m richer for their efforts.
Jose Riveiro’s message to his men will be simple: win both their remaining league games and a second-place finish is secured, and secondly, beat Sekhukhune in the Nedbank Cup final to lift a second trophy this season.
☠️ 🏦 #𝗡𝗘𝗗𝗕𝗔𝗡𝗞𝗖𝗨𝗣 🏦
— Orlando Pirates (@orlandopirates) May 7, 2023
🏆 FINAL
⚽️ @orlandopirates vs @SekhukhuneFc
📆 Saturday, 27 May 2023
🏟 Loftus Versfeld Stadium
🕛 TBC
⚫️⚪️🔴⭐️ #OrlandoPirates#OnceAlways pic.twitter.com/FWmJe2CEuG
The Sea Robbers are undoubtedly enjoying a positive turn-around in their games and seem destined to finish this season on a high, with the games coming thick and fast towards the finish line working in their favour.
“If you ask the players, they will tell you that they would rather be playing every three days than playing less. Especially when you are at this moment of the season.
“In the beginning of the season, it is different because you need to implement things, do adaptations and some of the players are struggling with physical conditioning,” he said in his press conference on Saturday.
Lots of factors contribute to this remarkable finish to the season for Pirates, but Riveiro has to be the biggest of those factors.
Since being appointed as head coach in June 2022 in what was his first-ever job in South Africa, the Spaniard has guided his side to an MTN8 triumph and are now on the verge of winning the Nedbank Cup.
𝗠𝗧𝗡𝟴
— iDiski Times (@iDiskiTimes) May 7, 2023
✅ 2-1 Royal AM
🔄 0-0 Mamelodi Sundowns
✅ 3-0 Mamelodi Sundowns
✅ 1-0 AmaZulu 🏆
𝗡𝗲𝗱𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝗖𝘂𝗽
✅ 2-0 All Stars
✅ 2-1 VFA
✅ 5-4 (a. PKs) Dondol Stars
✅ 2-1 Kaizer Chiefs
Jose Riveiro is still unbeaten in 8 cup games. pic.twitter.com/mp5M2IfZp4
He has also worked very hard to convince the supporters of his philosophy while also being branded a ’Plumber’ by the South African football community – a term used to describe coaches from overseas who come to work in Africa without any track record of success and often struggle on the continent.
In the league, they boast a two-point advantage over third-placed SuperSport United and a win over Sekhukhune United on Saturday will bring them closer to a return to the CAF Champions League stage.
Riveiro moved to SA and certainly made his presence felt at a club with a demanding fanbase and management. He’s notably galvanised the mental stability of the players, and more importantly, he seems to have come to grasp with the style of the DStv Premiership.
I expect that this will only make the club stronger, and definitely restore some confidence in him among the fans heading into the end of the campaign. He will also feel the backing of the club come the new season, as they look to continue winning trophies.
Their clash against Sekhukhune in the league will be one to watch, as it will give fans a slight picture of what can be expected in the final of the Nedbank cup at the Loftus Versfeld on May 27.
☠️ 👑 𝗖𝗢𝗔𝗖𝗛 𝗢𝗙 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗠𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗛 👑
— Orlando Pirates (@orlandopirates) May 8, 2023
📢 Congratulations to our Head Coach @CoachRiveiro for being crowned the April 2023 #DStvPrem Coach of the Month! 🏴☠️🫡
⚫️⚪️🔴⭐️#OrlandoPirates#OnceAlways pic.twitter.com/VH0vKLVMPQ
