Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro says the test of Al Ahly in the CAF Champions League is another step of growth for his youthful squad.
With Makhehleni Makhuala the only player with previous experience in the competition, Riveiro admits it’s a learning curve for his squad that have been labelled cup kings in the domestic scene with five won since his appointment as head coach.
After opening their Group C campaign with a major win in Algiers against CR Belouizdad, the reigning champions prove another monumental test, but one they are looking to come out with a win tomorrow at eSgodini.
“It’s an opportunity to keep learning as a group, to keep growing, to gain maturity, it’s going to be a game that is going to be played at a very high tempo, with 22 excellent footballers on the field at 3 pm tomorrow,” Riveiro said.
“It’s an opportunity for us to increase our confidence, I said before we played in Algeria that having the chance to play with a young group of talented players in this competition will be something that the club will capitalise in the near future and it’s another opportunity to… whatever happens tomorrow, the team is going to be a better team after.
“But we are ambitious, we want to not forget we’re playing for one result, we’re playing at home and the only result we want to collect at home is a victory and we’re going to fight with everything we have to make it possible.”
The two sides will lock horns at Orlando Stadium at 15h00 on Saturday afternoon.
