Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro has reserved special praise for Pyramids FC ahead of their CAF Champions League clash at FNB Stadium on Saturday.
The Buccaneers are still on course for a quadruple this season having already claimed the MTN8, have booked themselves a spot in the Nedbank Cup final against rivals Kaizer Chiefs and still within a chance for the Betway Premiership honours.
Pirates welcome the Egyptian side at the Calabash on Saturday afternoon, and the Spaniard admits that their opponents will be tough to break down while they also possess an attacking front that boasts plenty of experience.
“In my point of view, the fact that they lead in the domestic league, doing well in the cup competitions, as well brilliant participation in the Champions League this season tells a lot about them,” Riveiro told the media.
“Afterall, analysing them and knowing a little bit about the way they play football and their complexity that will require to stop them, tomorrow I can tell you they not in the semi-finals like I think the rest of us in the competition – [Al] Ahly and Mamelodi Sundowns – we are not here by chance.
“We are here because we were doing the things very well all the way through the competition and it’s a difficult team to control in defence. A lot of talent in the front four – experience.
“They know very well and they master the way they trying to play their football in possession. So, we know about the importance of make sure that tomorrow we can be in our best version otherwise universal version is not going to be enough.
“So, we accept the challenge, we ready to go, we really want to test ourselves one more time in this moment of the competition.
“And let’s see, let’s see how good can we be on the day and for sure it’s gonna be an equal game, it’s the semi-final of the Champions League, that’s what I can tell you right now about them without saying so much.”
