Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro has given his thoughts on sentiments that his team may not have depth to challenge Mamelodi Sundowns for the PSL title.
Pirates appear to be the most realistic opponent for Sundowns in the title race and have backed it up with five straight league wins that have taken them to the top of the table, ahead of the Brazilians’ match away to Polokwane City on Sunday.
However, Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi questioned if the Buccaneers have enough depth to keep rotating and getting positive results, especially now that they will also be competing in the CAF Champions League, pointing to their Carling Knockout loss to Magesi FC as one of the reasons they could struggle.
Do Pirates have depth to challenge Sundowns?
A changed Pirates team had it rough against Magesi last weekend, going down 3-0 in the first half, before scoring twice after the break, but it was not enough as they were eliminated from the competition, but Riveiro is backing his players to do the job.
“I think the team is getting mature, we show and the players show, this season they are really enjoying playing and that makes everything much easier,” Riveiro said on Friday, following his team’s 2-1 win over AmaZulu.
“So far, they are really focused in each and every game, you never hear them talking about Champions League the next month, or the big games we’re going to play. It’s always about the next opponent when you hear the players in the locker room and [training].
It is taking a game at a time for Jose Riveiro
“They are always talking about what’s coming or what we did the day before. It makes you feel that they are getting more mature as a group and they know what it takes to achieve what we want to achieve in the end, which is always the next… that makes me feel confident and very optimistic about this group.”
Riveiro’s men face TS Galaxy in their next league game on Tuesday while their Champions League group campaign will kick off in late-November after the next international break.
