LEAGUE DREAM FOR THE BUCCANEERS

Written by: Kamogelo Mogale

With the launch of the upcoming Betway Premiership having taken place at the Galleria on Tuesday afternoon, Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro says there is a lot that the supporters can look forward to this season. Riveiro has been relatively successful in charge of the Soweto giants and has managed to lead the club to back-to-back cup doubles (2 MTN8 titles, 2 Nedbank Cup titles) since his arrival.

The Sea Robbers will be hoping to finish above Mamelodi Sundowns as they hope to finally clinch the Betway Premiership title, a feat which would end the club’s 11 year league drought and the Spanish tactician admits that winning the Betway Premiership title will be one of his most satisfying achievements.

“It’s one of the responsibilities that comes with it; we need to fight for it [PSL title]. We are in it, so we must prove why we are there as the players and coaching staff. Now, we are going to try again. We are going to try to improve our football because it’s the way that we trust, and it is going to take us to that place where we want to be,” said Riveiro.

“And we understand that it’s going to be a difficult task, a difficult season. But at the same time, I think it’s going to be much more equal. I have a feeling that this season, points are going to be much more expensive. It’s the third time that we are going in for the league title. It has been the same in the previous ones but there was a team that did it better than everybody else. And that’s why we finished in the second position,” added Riveiro.

The Buccaneers supporters have already got a glimpse of what the side is capable of this season, after overcoming SuperSport United and Cape Town City to reach their third consecutive MTN8 final, where they will square off against Stellenbosch FC at the Moses Mabhida stadium in the hopes of making history by defending their title for the second time.

Pirates will travel to Botswana to face Jwaneng Galaxy in the CAF Champions League 2^nd preliminary round, a repeat of last year’s match before they get their Betway Premiership campaign underway with a home fixture against Chippa United on Wednesday 18^th of September.