Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro has strongly disagreed their defeat to Richards Bay was due to the squad having their eyes on the Nedbank Cup final.
The Natal Richboyz relegated Cape Town Spurs on Saturday with a 1-0 win over the Soweto giants at Orlando Stadium, which ended their seven-match winning run.
And the Spaniard was asked post-match whether the players dropped the ball, with the domestic cup final against Mamelodi Sundowns in mind on 1 June, which is set to be a sold out affair at Mbombela Stadium.
“We played a final, we lost one final now,” Riveiro said about losing to Richards Bay ahead of their final three games of the 2023/24 season.
“We have another final on Saturday in Mbombela [against TS Galaxy], then we have another final here with SuperSport, because we’re playing for something very important for our club, we have to give our all.
“Playing well or not, we have to give our all, that’s what they did [against Richards Bay], we are at peace with ourselves in that sense, a lot of things to improve, but the attitude, the desire to get the three points was there, that’s the most important thing.
“Now we’re going to another final, and we will do the same, the proposal will be the same and we know we’re playing for something big, we want to be in the Champions League next season – right now Stellenbosch is in that place and we want to get there.
“We know to do it, we need to run an extra mile, all of us, the technical team, the players, everybody in the team, everybody involved, and that’s the only way to make it possible, so that’s why.”
Pirates take on the Rockets on Saturday, who could still finish as high as fourth place in the DStv Premiership this season, with the remaining three games for them to play.