Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro is aiming to break Mamelodi Sundowns’ “extraordinary record” on Wednesday, adding that the Tshwane giants are a well-coached club under Rulani Mokwena.
The two heavyweight of South African football will lock horns at Orlando Stadium on Wednesday (19:30) in the titanic clash that always provides goals.
Pirates enter the game 11 points behind Sundowns, who have played two games more, meaning Buccaneers must win to not fall off the pace in the title race. However, no team has beaten Mokwena’s men in the league since SuperSport United defeated them in September last year.
“We are going to face an excellent team, very well coached with an extraordinary record and all those things,” said Riveiro, whose side lost both league matches to Sundowns last season
“Putting those things together, it is a huge motivation for us because we work every day in order to find greatness and Wednesday is an opportunity to collect three important points.
“We have played only four games in the league, we are lacking some points and the game is in Orlando, in front of our people, and we are really looking forward to that kick-off.”
Sundowns, bar Chippa United last season, have been the only side in recent times to pick up points at Orlando Stadium and have won in their last four visits in the league matches.
The last time Pirates beat Sundowns at the iconic venue in Soweto was in January 2020 when Gabadinho Mhango scored the only goal when Pitso Mosimane was in charge of the Tshwane giants.
However, Pirates got the better of Sundowns in the MTN8 semi-final last season, crushing them 3-0 in the second leg, which resulted in the technical team changes at Chloorkop and Mokwena becoming the sole head coach.
Sundowns, who have won the league title six times in the row, have won the opening six matches, sitting on 18 points, scoring 13 and conceding just two. Pirates, on the other hand, lie seventh with seven points after four matches, having played two less games.
If Sundowns would avoid defeat to Pirates on Wednesday, they will equal the unbeaten record in the PSL of 31 games, which was set by Kaizer Chiefs under the late Ted Dumitru and Ernst Middendorp in 2005, and ultimately ended by Platinum Stars.
