Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro is not too concerned that Mamelodi Sundowns went top of the table after their slip-up against Stellenbosch FC.
Pirates came into the game with a club-record seven consecutive wins to start the 2024/25 season but it came to an abrupt halt against Stellenbosch who moved up to third place with the win, while Sundowns now sit at the summit with a superior goal difference.
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Both Pirates and Sundowns have 21 points with seven wins and one defeat from the opening eight rounds of fixtures and now turn their attention back to the CAF Champions League this weekend.
“I think we have the same amount of points, its goal difference right now is putting us up and down, it’s only eight games, and we have to play 30 games, trust me, we all know how difficult it’s going to be, how difficult it is to win each and every game,” Riveiro said.
“We want to compete, we want to be there until the last game with options to finish in the top and that’s the time that we will analyse and right now to be second… obviously we would like to be on top with 10 points of advantage, understanding this league because of the level of the opponents, right now it’s not possible.
“So, I’m not frustrated at all, the first defeat came [against Stellenbosch], I think we beat Chippa 2-1 here in the 95th minute when it was close to being a draw, some other games [also]. We didn’t perform [badly] to lose this match, but it happens, no drama, we prepare for the next one – this group will fight until the last game.”
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Riveiro was then pressed on how they could compete for the league title, when Sundowns manage to just churn out points, having only had one defeat in eight games and somehow see themselves drop down to second place.
“We have the same amount of points, exactly the same, we lost, they lost to Polokwane City a few weeks ago, we have the same amount of points, so we have to run our race, that’s it,” he explained.
“We played against Stellenbosch, not Mamelodi Sundowns, we’re competing against Sundowns, Stellenbosch, Kaizer Chiefs, Golden Arrows, everybody, it’s three points [on offer] in every game.
“It’s only eight [games], I know we are in December, we should have maybe 15 or 20 games already played in the league, that is why you are a little bit anxious with this question but it’s only eight [games].
“Some of the teams not even eight, it’s so early, there’s going to be teams you don’t even see or looking at right now that will finish in the top three, 100%, or in the top four, they are coming. So there’s still a lot of things to say in this competition.”
Pirates will now prepare for African champions Al Ahly this week as they host the Red Devils at Orlando Stadium on Saturday in the Champions League.
