NEWS: Jose Riveiro Honors Stellenbosch’s Competitiveness As The Chase For Caf Champions League Spot Heats Up

The Sea Robbers continued where they left off against Chippa United on Wednesday after a 2-0 victory thanks to Tshegofatso Mabasa’s brace.

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With three games to spare the Soweto giants have 49 points in third place in the DStv Premiership standings and trail Stellies by a solitary point who currently occupy second after a goalless draw against AmaZulu.

Pirates have gone 15 games undefeated in 2024 across all competitions.

Meanwhile, the Maroons have also gone 16 games not beaten with a solitary loss to the champions Mamelodi Sundowns in the Nedbank Cup semi-final.

“Stellies is still ahead of us with one point, that’s the reality they still depend on their own performance and results,” said Riveiro.

“We have to continue putting pressure and pushing as much as we can in order to do our own homework.

“It’s going to be difficult for all of us until the end, tight games for sure.

“But at the same time it’s a nice fight, Stellies have an excellent season, whatever happened at the end of the season for them is an exceptional campaign,” he added.

“We going to give our all to finish as high as possible (second place).

Riveiro’s side have not conceded a goal in their last four league matches with the Spaniard revealing the secret behind his side’s resolute defence.

“Being solid and not conceding, it’s a big thing for a team with the capacity that we have in attack, it’s difficult to keep a clean sheet against us as well.

“So, guaranteed that we are not conceding, usually it means that we going to get the three points.

“I think we are right now second in the log in scoring goals behind Sundowns.

“If we keep this consistency and not give away any goals we are defending well, not giving the opponents to score and keep the ball.

“Not in the last cup game against Chippa where we defended a lot of set pieces inside the box but I think in this game we did it much better.

“Obviously we need everybody involved, performing in every game and defence is not an exception,” Riveiro concluded.

Orlando Pirates will host relegation zone-threatened Richards Bay at Esigodini on Saturday.

Kick-off is at 20:00.