Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro has acknowledged the difficult task that awaits his team in the MTN8 final when they take on Stellenbosch FC on Saturday.
The Buccaneers and the Stellies square off at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban for the first trophy of the season with Riveiro’s men seeking to become the first team to claim three straight titles.
However, Stellenbosch have proved a tough nut to crack this season and eliminated Mamelodi Sundowns in the semi-final and Riveiro has highlighted his side’s recent struggles against Steve Barker’s men and expects the same, if not more, on Saturday.
“We have to accept Stellenbosch the way they are,” Riveiro told iDiski Times
Pirates coach expects tough match in Durban
“We respect them big time. We faced Stellenbosch four times last season – in the MTN8 semi-finals and our two games in the league. We beat them once. It takes 94 minutes in Athlone [Stadium] to beat them against the same players.
“We didn’t get a result in any of the other games, so we know very well what it means to play Stellenbosch. And we have to accept it.
“It’s gonna be a game where we are going to be permanently under threat because there’s gonna be transitions, it doesn’t matter how good and how well we prepare ourselves for that situation, we know it’s coming.”
Rieiro then identified some of Stellenbosch’s dangermen who have proved value for money already this season, especially in the MTN8 and CAF Confederation Cup.
Who are the Stellies stars worrying Jose Riveiro?
“We know [Sanele] Barns, we know [Devin] Titus, we know the young [Bradley] Mojela, we know Jayden [Adams]. We know the capacity they have to play quick forward. We know how aggressive they are. In the counter press, it is the top team in the league – in the PSL tournaments,” he added.
“How aggressive they are. Mojela is the striker. He’s the top in the lack of fouls committed with [Ismail] Toure. It tells you quite a lot about the level of aggression they have the moment that they lose the ball. And how aggressive they are going forward the moment they steal the ball.
“So, we know that those are one of the moments we need to control close to the perfection, and if we do it, we will be close to winning the match. If we don’t do it, then the result will be compromised.”
