Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro has responded to claims they will fall short in the league title race this season.
Pirates look to be the realistic challengers to reigning champions Mamelodi Sundowns this season after winning five of their opening five league games this season.
And Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi admitted they have quality, with a great start but pointed out that when they rotated they lost to Magesi and have been known to lose points against the so-called smaller teams.
“I think the team is getting mature, we show and the players show, this season they are really enjoying playing and that makes everything much easier,” Riveiro said.
“So far they are really focused in each and every game, you never hear them talking about Champions League the next month, or the big games we’re going to play. It’s always about the next opponent when you hear the players in the locker room and [training].
“They are always talking about what’s coming or what we did the day before. It makes you feel that they are getting more mature as a group and they know what it takes to achieve what we want to achieve in the end, which is always the next… that makes me feel confident and very optimistic about this group.”
Pirates will now travel to Mbombela where they will face TS Galaxy on Tuesday evening (19h30).