According to some Orlando Pirates fans, coach Jose Riveiro is just a cup guy and, therefore, not good enough. Teko Modise disagrees.
ORLANDO PIRATES COACH JOSE RIVEIRO IS QUALITY SAYS TEKO MODISE
The Spaniard arrived in July 2022. So far, he has won three trophies: the MTN8 on two occasions and the Nedbank Cup. A group of Pirates followers believe this is not good enough.
“It’s unfair to say that coach Jose is only a cup winning coach and not a league winning coach. I mean which other coach has been winning the league except the Sundowns coaches?,” Modise told the Citizens‘s Khaya Ndubane.
“Look at him coming to join Pirates almost two years ago, what has he achieved. So we can’t overlook the things he has done because he has not won the league title.
“We saw how Pirates did in the second half of the season last season. We want to see that again this season. We want to see Pirates competing with Sundowns because when Pirates and Chiefs compete with Sundowns, then our league becomes exciting. But I can’t sit here and say that coach Riveiro has not done well because he has not won the league, that’s an understatement,” Modise added.
GETTING CLOSER TO MAMELODI SUNDOWNS
According to the Pirates legend, Sundowns have opened a vast gap but the Sea Robbers have been doing admirably to close distance.
“Orlando Pirates are a team that is slowly growing. They’re an exciting team (to watch) and of course they’re winning trophies. But when it comes to the league, it’s very difficult (to win it). And those who have never won the league will never understand how difficult it is to win it,” the Soweto-born legend added.
“Mamelodi Sundowns have a way (of winning the league), they have a formula. So we can’t look it in way and say Pirates have a problem because they are not winning the league. Who has been winning the league in the past 10 seasons? It’s been Mamelodi Sundowns! If you then say Pirates have a problem then the other 14 teams in the league also have a problem. So we can’t just look at one team and say ‘Pirates have a problem because they’re not winning the league’, no, were have to look at it holistically.
“The other 15 teams in the league need to come to the party and not only compete against Sundowns, but amongst themselves to make the league competitive. I’m not sure what Pirates’ ambitions are, but I think they also want to play the Champions League again and they need to do well in the league to qualify for it . Looking at the squad and the quality of the team, Pirates maybe the only team right now that can maybe compete with Sundowns, which we know how difficult that may be.” concluded the former Pirates captain.
Coming up next for the Buccaneers is a trip to Polokwane against Sekhukhune United in the league on Saturday. Kick-off is 17:45 at the Peter Mokaba Stadium.