Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro believes his team can still beat Mamelodi Sundowns to the Premier Soccer League title despite the recent loss.
On Sunday, Stellenbosch ended the Buccaneers' perfect start to the season after handing them their first loss at the Orlando Stadium. Devine Titus scored the lone goal in the first half to hand Stellies maximum points.
The loss relegated Bucs to the second position with 21 points, the same with Sundowns who are top of the table thanks to their superior goal difference.
‘I am not frustrated' – Riveiro
“I think we have the same amount of points, its goal difference right now is putting us up and down, it’s only eight games, and we have to play 30 games, trust me, we all know how difficult it’s going to be, how difficult it is to win each and every game,” the Spaniard opened up to the media.
“We want to compete, we want to be there until the last game with options to finish in the top and that’s the time that we will analyse and right now to be second; obviously we would like to be on top with 10 points of advantage, understanding this league because of the level of the opponents, right now it’s not possible.
“So, I’m not frustrated at all, the first defeat came [against Stellenbosch], I think we beat Chippa 2-1 here in the 95th minute when it was close to being a draw, some other games [also]. We didn’t perform [badly] to lose this match, but it happens, no drama, we prepare for the next one, this group will fight until the last game,” he added.
‘It is early to say Sundowns will win it'
Riveiro has further promised to go neck-to-neck with Masandawana, insisting the recent defeat doesn't mean much.
“We have the same amount of points, exactly the same, we lost, they lost to Polokwane City a few weeks ago, we have the same amount of points, so we have to run our race, that’s it,” the Bucs coach added.
“We played against Stellenbosch, not Mamelodi Sundowns, we’re competing against Sundowns, Stellenbosch, Kaizer Chiefs, Golden Arrows, everybody, it’s three points [on offer] in every game.
“It’s only eight [games], I know we are in December, we should have maybe 15 or 20 games already played in the league, that is why you are a little bit anxious with this question but it’s only eight,” Riveiro added.
“Some of the teams not even eight, it’s so early, there’s going to be teams you don’t even see or looking at right now that will finish in the top three, 100%, or in the top four, they are coming. So there’s still a lot of things to say in this competition.”
After the Sunday heartbreak, the next assignment for Pirates will be on Saturday in the Caf Champions League against holders Al Ahly at the Orlando Stadium.
