Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro has opened up on his side being favourites in the MTN 8 final against Stellenbosch, saying they have to accept it.
Pirates are looking to bag a third successive MTN 8 tittle, while it could be the coach’s fifth trophy in his third campaign with the Buccaneers. For Stellies this is their first Wafa-Wafa final at the sold out Moses Mabhida Stadium and a second domestic cup final in as many seasons.
Riveiro says Pirates being one of the big teams in the country already makes his charges favourites and says it is not unusual that there are expectations. The coach says one of the toughest things he has to handle being at the helm of such a club, is people already declaring Pirates winners before they even kick a ball in a game, but he warned that it will be their toughest final.
“Our players are smart to appreciate, they know football they appreciate what Stellenbosch is doing,” said the Spaniard.
“They are not taking Stellenbosch like a minor thing you can be sure. I will say of all those finals it is the toughest one in my opinion because of the characteristics of our opponent.
“So for me one thing is to feel that you are favourite which is something again that we need to accept in our space. We are Orlando Pirates it’s not about Stellenbosch. It’s not about playing against any other team that you want to mention.
“I don’t think if you ask any of our fans whoever is playing against us they will tell you that maybe one point today is enough because I don’t think it’s the case. We have to face each and every game with intention.
“Them sometimes it’s possible, sometimes it’s not, understand me right. We have to respect every opponent and there are many teams that want the same things that we do.
“And I’m sure that deep inside if you ask Stellenbosch players, Stellenbosch technical staff somehow they also feel that at some point they can be winning this match. I’m 100% sure it must be like that.
“So I don’t think anybody is going to the field on Saturday feeling that the job is done before we start running there. We are going to run a lot. There’s not going to be a small space of feeling relaxed.
“Again we are used to it when you represent a big club like we are. I used to say the most complicated part is to win the games that everybody thinks it’s going to be easy like a few days ago against Richards Bay.”
