Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro is convinced his team has made significant progress in their bid to win their first Premier Soccer League title in a decade.
On Sunday, they laboured to a 1-0 win over 10-man Magesi FC to end the 2024 year on a high. Relebohile Mofokeng's strike ensured the Buccaneers registered their ninth win from the 10 outings.
Bucs have 27 points, three less than leaders Mamelodi Sundowns who have played a game more. Masandawana have won the last seven editions and are still desperate to get another one under new coach Niguel Cardoso.
The Spaniard feels his team is ready to go all the way in the ongoing campaign, but it is up to the players.
Orlando Pirates try their best – Riveiro
“You should ask the players [if they are ready to win the Premier Soccer League title],” Riveiro stated.
“We try to do our job as best we can. We are playing for the club, we are trying to play our best football, we are really ambitious as a group, and we want to write our own history with Pirates.
“[Against Magesi] [I think we played five or six players from our development, that’s something very special for all of us, for our fans too. So little by little, we are getting more material, more experience as a group and growing and growing, and like you see, the fans are always coming in numbers.
“They were behind us and this 2024 was always something special to play in front of them and hopefully next year we can continue to play with the same level of love and appreciation from the supporters because that’s going to be a good signal.”
Pirates will be in action on Saturday but in the continental outing. They will host Stade d'Abidjan in Group C's Caf Champions League outing. Bucs are on five points after a win and two draws in the pool.
