After bagging bragging rights over rivals Mamelodi Sundowns within the Nedbank Cup closing, Orlando Pirates are optimistic about their possibilities of dethroning the Brazilians within the DStv Premiership.
The Buccaneers’ 2-1 win over Sundowns was the cherry on prime for the Soweto giants, who accomplished the 2023/24 soccer season with two cup titles in as many seasons operating.
Pirates claimed the MTN8 earlier within the season, the place they surprised the identical Sundowns in October final 12 months.
Head coach Jose Riveiro has established himself as a cup king, having received extra native trophies than any coach within the nation since his arrival in 2022.
Nevertheless, the elephant within the room has been their shortcomings within the DStv Premiership.
On this just lately concluded marketing campaign, Riveiro’s Buccaneers completed as runners-up, trailing Masandawana by a large margin of 23 factors – one which the membership has set sights on lowering subsequent season.
READ: Jose Riveiro proud as Relebohile Mofokeng seals dramatic Nedbank Cup win for Orlando Pirates
“We have to handle that area as a result of if we give it some thought an excessive amount of, it’ll restrict our performances.
“We have now performed properly this season, repeating the double this season and there may be room for enchancment,” Pirates captain Harmless Maela stated on Morning Reside.
“The stress [to win the league] will at all times be there when you find yourself enjoying for a giant group like Pirates, you’re at all times anticipated to win and make the individuals joyful,” Maela added.
Singing from the identical hymn sheet is goalkeeper Sipho Chaine, who performed a key position in Pirates’ triumph after saving a Lucas Ribeiro penalty.
“From the gamers’ perspective, we’re greater than able to difficult for all of the trophies that we’re competing for. That’s the degree we have to push ourselves to,” Chaine advised Morning Reside.
“It begins with the coach and the way a lot confidence he provides us coming into each sport. It additionally rubs onto us as gamers.
“The coach exhibits us a brighter image by way of the space between us and them. We at all times consider in ourselves that very quickly, the hole shall be a lot nearer than it’s now,” Chaine added.
Riveiro, in the meantime, takes extra of a diplomatic method to his possibilities of main Bucs to what could be the primary league championship for the reason that 2011/12 season, suggesting that some degree of introspection will happen as soon as the mud has settled.
“Little by little, we’ve got to cut back the space and present that we’ve got the capability to compete. On the finish of the highway, the winner of the league will depend on many issues,” Riveiro stated on Morning Reside.
“However now we have to perceive that we did properly in sure moments of the season however initially, we have to put our concentrate on the issues that we all know we have to enhance after which we will begin to talk about [about the league], however it’s a step-by-step course of,” Riveiro concluded.
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FT || @Masandawana 1 – 2 @orlandopirates
71' (P) Maswanganyi
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— Orlando Pirates (@orlandopirates) June 1, 2024
