Soweto Derby: Riveiro reveals how Pirates plan to stop Chiefs after recent disastrous performance

Orlando Pirates’ season is seemingly crumbling after recent disappointing results across all competitions.

The Soweto giants were knocked out of the annual Caf Champions League in the semi-final phase by Pyramids, who will be battling for the title with South African heavyweights Mamelodi Sundowns.

On Wednesday, they failed to get past Sekhukhune United in the Premier Soccer League after falling at the Orlando Stadium by a solitary goal. It means the Buccaneers have conceded four goals in the last two games, with just two in return.

The main course of concern for coach Jose Riveiro has been on defending set pieces, because, surprisingly, that is where they have been shipping in goals.

‘We will get it right’

On Saturday, Pirates will be playing their old rivals Kaizer Chiefs in the Premier Soccer League’s Soweto derby that will be played at the FNB Stadium. Seven days later, they will be facing each other in the Nedbank Cup final at the Moses Mabhida Stadium. Riveiro concedes the set-piece headache has to be solved.

“Yeah, obviously the set piece is an element that we need to [work on] and we’re doing it, we’re trying to get better to minimise our deficits in those situations, like every other team,” the Spaniard stated.

“I think during the whole season we were quite solid and dominating in those situations, but it’s true that for whatever reason in the last games we are suffering a little bit more, and sometimes the opponent is more accurate, but I think it’s something that we are hands-on every week. It’s not or shouldn’t be something to panic about, we’ll get it right,” he concluded.