Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro has looked to explain his sides' patchy form by saying that they were playing in too many competitions at the same time.
Pirates, who earlier in the season managed to defend their MTN8 title, have also been involved in The CAF Champions League and the Carling Knockout.
Having played nine games in the DStv Premiership, Pirates are far down the table in 10th place with three wins, three draws and three losses.
Reflecting on their campaign Riveiro said: “Our schedule was strange. Early in the league we played four games very quickly and then we disappeared… we weren’t in the league anymore as we were playing three other competitions.
“We had a good run in the MTN8, we didn’t succeed in the Champion’s League, and it happened again in the last game in the Carling.
“It seemed like we weren’t participating in the league with the frequency that you need,” he told The Sowetan.
“It’s difficult; this is not an excuse. I mean the schedule is what it is, and we accepted it from the beginning.
“But it’s difficult to prepare yourself, especially mentally, to say today I play for three points, tomorrow I play for one trophy in the final and after tomorrow I play in the quarterfinal in a different competition… three days later I play to qualify for the group stages of the Champions League’.
“It is one of the things we need to do better.
“We need to improve because eventually, Pirates will always be in that mixture of competitions early in the season, where participation isn’t enough, you have to succeed and go to the last stage of each competition,” he said.
Pirates are in action again this weekend when they take on their Soweto rivals Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium on Saturday in the first Soweto Derby of the season. Both Pirates and Chiefs come into the game on the back of wins in their previous outings, Pirates beat Sekhukhune 1-0 on Tuesday while Chiefs triumphed 3-2 over Cape Town Spurs on Wednesday.
Saturday’s derby kicks off at 3.30pm.
