As his time with Orlando Pirates draws to a close, head coach Jose Riveiro has heaped praise on his players for their resilience and commitment this season.
Riveiro, who is set to step down at the end of the campaign, continued his impressive record in Soweto derbies with a 2-1 victory over Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium this past weekend – his fifth consecutive win over their arch-rivals.
Reflecting on the season, Riveiro lauded his squad’s competitive spirit and the consistency they’ve shown across all fronts.
“This group across the season has managed to show its resilience shouldn’t be questioned,” said the Spaniard.
“They are competing in every competition. We’ve already won a final in the MTN8, and now we’re in another with the Nedbank Cup.”
Under Riveiro’s leadership, the Buccaneers also made a strong run in the CAF Champions League, narrowly missing out on a spot in the final.
“We were 10 minutes away from playing in a Champions League final,” he noted. “And we’re still pushing Mamelodi Sundowns in the league race.”
With Pirates still mathematically in the hunt for the DStv Premiership title and gunning for a domestic double, Riveiro believes his team is poised for greatness – even beyond his tenure.
“They’re proving they can do something special. Whether we win or not, the level of commitment and composure this team has shown is something that will carry them forward.”
The Buccaneers will now turn their attention to a midweek clash against Golden Arrows at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Tuesday – before facing Kaizer Chiefs once more in the Nedbank Cup final – a chance to end the season on a high.