Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro says his side’s season won’t be judged on their Nedbank Cup final result.
The Buccaneers enjoyed a productive season, first winning the MTN8 before ending second in the DStv Premiership.
They secured their CAF Champions League place on the last day of their campaign, for a second successive second-place finish.
While they managed to overcome Mamelodi Sundowns in the top-eight competition earlier on in the season, it is the league champions who head into this weekend’s fixture as favourites.
Riveiro explained that regardless of the result at the Mbombela Stadium on Saturday, that his side can be proud of their achievements this term.
The Bucs boss said: “In terms of the feeling we have as a group, the football that we managed to display this season, it’s already the best one…whatever happens on Saturday.
“What we can already see now tells me that this season was really, really good. If we can put the cherry on top, that’d be fantastic and we really want to do it, don’t get me wrong, I am not saying I am already satisfied and whatever happens on Saturday I am fine, no! I am not but I am not going to evaluate the season because of the next 90 minutes, not at all.”
Sundowns were on course to go their whole league season unbeaten but lost to Cape Town City on the final day.
Riveiro doesn’t think that defeat will affect the Brazilians at the weekend.
“I don’t think losing their last league game of the season will affect them at all. Probably it [losing to City] is going to be a boost for them because they are used to winning, so probably they didn’t like losing,” the Pirates boss explained.