Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro has discussed whether he feels the club has improved his squad since last season.
Pirates have signed over eight new players while releasing 11 that were part of the squad that finished second, won the MTN8 and Nedbank Cup last season.
In the January window, Tshegofatso Mabasa returned early from his season-long loan at Moroka Swallows, Thabiso Lebitso and Thalante Mbataha arrived from Chippa United and SuperSport United, respectively.
The Buccaneers have often been criticised for their high turnover of players and often going sideways in recruitment and not improving their current options but Riveiro has been left pleased with what he’s seen.
“In which sense better, quality? Well that is difficult [to say], the players we had last season were quality players too,” Riveiro said when asked by iDiski Times if the squad has improved from last season.
“There are many [variables] to think about when you recruit new players or you release some players in the squad – there’s also age renovation.
“I think in our last game in Polokwane the average age was 25-point-something which is quite low to lower than usual, there’s new younger players coming in. The introduction of DDC players as well.”
The Spaniard went on to suggest the transfer committee, which he’s referred to in the past have strengthened the areas that were necessary to strengthen which has left him happy going into the second half of the season – but they now need to prove their worth.
“So I think quality will never be a problem [at Pirates] it was not a problem before, so in terms of quality I can’t say it’s better or inferior than the previous [season] it’s just different, we’re following a certain criteria when we recruit new players,” he added.
“I think in that sense, the club was accurate in order to recruit the right players for us, and now we need to be even more competitive. I think what the previous squad did one year ago is something to highlight, being second with two trophies, the best team in the second half of the season in terms of results, numbers, everything.
“It’s also a challenge for the new [players] although not totally new, but let’s see, still lots of game to play and we have the capacity and opportunity to answer your question somehow to say if we’re better squad than [last] season.”
