Orlando Pirates start their Caf Champions League Group C campaign with a tough assignment on Tuesday away against Algerian outfit CR Belouizdad.
The game will be staged at the Mandela Stadium in Algiers from 21.00SAT. The Soweto Giants have started the 2024/25 Premier Soccer League campaign well, winning all seven matches played.
Khanyisa Mayo's Belouizdad have not been doing well domestically and as a result, they are placed 10th on the table after two wins, as many losses, and four draws. However, Riveiro is still not taking the domestic form into consideration ahead of the fixture.
‘The current situation is not important'
This is a different competition, I don't think our situation in the league will play a big role,” the Spaniard told the media ahead of the Tuesday assignment.
“I think Belouizdad are coming from a time with a new coaching staff, they are getting better in the last few weeks, getting good results the last time they played in the league. So probably all of those components will be more important than their current situation in the league.
“I think both teams are in a good space, coming from good results in our local competitions but again this is a Champions League, it is a different story, a different approach from both teams.”
Riveiro determined to make history
Bucs missed out on making the Caf Champions League group stage last season after falling against TS Galaxy.
Riveiro is confident the quality within their squad will be enough to help the Buccaneers make history in this edition.
“It is the first match from the group stage, probably we will know more about each other at the end of the 90 minutes, but tomorrow we have the opportunity – for both of us to start the group stages with a good result. It is going to be a good game I think.
“Excited to have the opportunity to have the opportunity to make history in the Champions League group stages in a place like this one against a tough opponent, knowing the difficulty of the task. We come with the right intent to compete and hopefully get a good result.”
Thapelo Xoki, Deano Van Rooyen, Makhehlene Makhaula, Thabiso Lebitso, and Sandile Mthethwa are among the players who are ready to be involved, but coach Riveiro might opt to give them some time to gain match fitness before throwing them into the deep end.
