Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro has emphasised the importance of securing victory in their next fixture, with the Soweto derby on the horizon.
Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro has emphasised the importance of securing victory in their next fixture, with the Soweto derby on the horizon.
On Tuesday, the Buccaneers will entertain a visit from a Sekhukhune United side that parted ways with head coach Brandon Truter a few days ago.
The encounter is set to kick off at 7.30pm at the Orlando Stadium, and both teams will be looking to shake off recent bad spells after getting knocked out of the Carling Knockout Cup at the weekend.
☠️ 🔎 𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗖𝗛 𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪 🔍
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⚽️ @orlandopirates vs @SekhukhuneFc
📆 Tuesday, 07 November 2023
🏟 Orlando Stadium
🕢 19h30
📺 SuperSport PSL
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Riveiro, who has missed out on his first cup competition since his arrival in South Africa, is desperate to return his team to winning ways after going four games on the trot without victory.
While the Spaniard is under no pressure at the Sea Robbers, he has placed the importance of securing all three points above playing entertaining football.
The 48-year-old cut a frustrated figure while speaking to the media after his side’s defeat to Richards Bay and said he’d welcome an “ugly” win with a huge match coming at the weekend.
☠️ "Our approach is to go in with everything."
🎙 Assistant Coach | Sergio Almenara🏆 #DStvPrem
⚽️ @orlandopirates vs @SekhukhuneFc
📆 Tuesday, 07 November 2023
🏟 Orlando Stadium
🕢 19h30
📺 SuperSport PSL
🎫 @TicketProSA 👉🏿 https://t.co/Qgbw3yjEjA⚫⚪🔴⭐#OrlandoPirates… pic.twitter.com/On0COj3Ya0
— Orlando Pirates (@orlandopirates) November 6, 2023
“It’s obviously important (to regain form) because we’re playing for three points. We need to play badly once and win because we need points,” he said.
“We need to play really badly and not be fancy like we are right now by keeping possession of the ball and putting the opponents under pressure, but not scoring.
“We need to have at least one bad game, win and get a boost before going to the derby as good as possible.”
The last time these two sides met, Pirates were in blistering form and hammered Babina Noko 5-0 in the quarter-final of the MTN8 before going on to lift the trophy.
But this is a different Pirates to that of two months ago as the likes of Zakhele Lepasa, who scored a hat-trick last time, continue to struggle for form and goals.
The 26-year-old forward is heading for his eighth match without a goal in Pirates colours after initially scoring 10 in his first eight appearances of the campaign.
With Lepasa missing in action, the Buccaneers cut a blunt figure up front and have managed just five goals in their past 11 matches.
Sekhukhune are not without problems of their own coming into this match, though, as one win in the past seven matches in all competitions resulted in Truter being shown the door.
The lack of precision in the final third and goals has cost the Limpopo-based side dearly. They found the back of the net just once in their past five outings.
Sekhukhune’s poor form has not only seen them get eliminated from the Carling Knockout Cup but they have also dropped out of the top eight despite recent investment in the off-season.
While the two teams appear to be struggling, the players on each team have enough quality to produce a spectacle on the day.
