NEWS: ‘There is too much distance’ – Jose Riveiro vows to narrow Orlando Pirates’ 23-point gap to champions Mamelodi Sundowns

The Buccaneers drew 1-1 against SuperSport United to secure qualification to the CAF Champions League after Richards Bay secured a shock win over fellow continental hopefuls Stellenbosch, who the Buccaneers pipped to second on goal difference.

Despite clinching passage to the CAF Champions League, Riveiro remained dissatisfied by the margin between his side and Rulani Mokwena’s Masandawana, who lifted a seventh consecutive league crown.

“The result (against SuperSport) was good enough to achieve the objective we were looking for,” said Riveiro.

“I won’t say congratulations but, a very well done to Stellenbosch because they had a remarkable season but today it is us who are in that spot. Everyone can see that the margins were very small.

“I’m so proud and happy because it is not easy. We should not undermine what it means to be in the Champions League. We are not celebrating to be second, we are celebrating to be in the Champions League.

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“We have the right to be there and it is something very important for the club. Being second and 23 points behind the first team is not a huge achievement.

“Our objective from now on is how we can reduce that gap with whoever is leading the log because there is too much distance between the first and second position.

“Even though we are fighting with a team that is not famous for dropping points frequently, there are things that we can control like in the last two, we could have consolidated the second spot but we gave away points.

“It is something that we need to reflect on but we have to celebrate the Champions League spot but not the fact that we are 23 points from the leaders,” the Bucs mentor added.

Since 2010, Pirates have qualified for the Champions League seven times, and gone on to reach the group stages on just two occasions – in 2013 when they finished as runners-up against Al Ahly, and in the 2018/19 season.

The previous two campaigns saw the Buccaneers succumb in the preliminary round.

“It is fantastic that Pirates are going to be in the Champions League again next season and represent South Africa in the continent, hopefully doing better than last time,” Riveiro concluded.