Bucs’ pursuit for top-two finish intensifies after a somewhat inconsistent start to the DStv Premiership season, the Buccaneers find themself trailing behind Cape Town City and SuperSport United, five points adrift in fifth place.
Riveiro, emphasizing the urgency of the situation, acknowledges that they can’t afford any more slip-ups if they aspire to secure a prime position and partake in continental football next season.
“Winning is the only thing in our minds,” asserts Riveiro, recognizing the past dropped points that have hindered their climb up the ranks. The recent 1-1 draw against Mamelodi Sundowns did little to alleviate the pressure, extending their winless streak to three games.
On the flip side, Polokwane City, under the guidance of Phuti Mohafe, are riding a wave of optimism. Unbeaten in their last three league outings, they aim to rectify past mistakes, particularly the 3-2 loss to Richards Bay in the Nedbank Cup.
Mohafe issues a stern warning ahead of the clash with Pirates, emphasizing the need to learn from recent errors. “We cannot make the same mistakes against Pirates,” cautions Mohafe, citing their recent loss in the Nedbank Cup.
In the league standings, Polokwane occupy ninth position on 24 points just two away from Pirates in fifth place.
Key players to watch for Polokwane City include Tholo Matuludi and Douglas Mapfumo, both in decent form. For Pirates, Evidence Makgopa, who impressed against Mamelodi Sundowns, along with Patrick Maswanganyi and Relebohile Mofokeng, goal-scorers in the Nedbank Cup 6-0 win against Crystal Lake, stand out as the ones to lead the charge.
In their recent encounters, Pirates have dominated, winning four out of the last five DStv Premiership meetings against Polokwane City, with one match ending in a draw.
As the race for the top-two intensifies, both teams brace themselves for a crucial showdown that could significantly shape their season trajectories.