Orlando Pirates team picture during the 2023 Carling Black Label Knockout match against Cape Town Spurs at the Orlando Stadium, Soweto on the 20 October 2023 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix.
‘Pirates players are not friends’ – Jose Riveiro
In less than two seasons, Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro has delivered three trophies. What it is the secret to the team spirit?
Orlando Pirates team picture during the 2023 Carling Black Label Knockout match against Cape Town Spurs at the Orlando Stadium, Soweto on the 20 October 2023 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix.
Orlando Pirates are looking like true Soweto giants again. The Sea Robbers held Mamelodi Sundowns in the league before burying Crystal Lake in the Nedbank Cup.
Coach Jose Riveiro has revealed the players are not friends but brothers.
NEDBANK CUP: CRYSTAL LAKE 0-6 ORLANDO PIRATES
As was expected against a third-division club, Pirates breezed through to the Nedbank Cup last 16 last Saturday.
It was 4-0 by half-time, thanks to goals from Tapelo Xoki, Relebohile Mofokeng and Patrick Maswanganyi, including an own goal from the hosts.
Two more goals followed in the second half. Xoki delivered a second before Tshegofatso Mabasa hit the final nail in the coffin in the 79th minute.
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JOSE RIVEIRO ON THE TEAM SPIRIT
According to Riveiro, the player have creators a crucial connection with each other.
“Everybody has the capacity to understand one another. We are brothers; we are not friends but brothers, which is something stronger,” Riveiro said, as quoted by The Sowetan.
“Even though sometimes we are not necessarily the best of friends, the brotherhood is there and when someone in the family has a problem, we try to extend our hand and we try to protect the people when they are not in a good space.
“That’s the sign of humanity, probably the most important one and in this group, we are more than complete in that sense,” the Pirates tactician concluded.
Moving on, the Buccaneers will host first Division side Hungry Lions in the Nedbank Cup last 16.
For now, Pirates will travel to Polokwane City on Saturday at 15:30.
You can find more articles from Siseko Gwegwe here.
