Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro has emphasised the importance of staying within touching distance of teams above them, describing this week as a “nine points” week with Cape Town Spurs and Kaizer Chiefs looming large.
Placed-fourth on the log, Pirates grabbed a crucial win away against Polokwane City at the weekend, thanks to Evidence Makgopa's solitary unanswered strike. The victory at Peter Mokaba Stadium also saw the Sea Robbers snap their three-game winless streak in the DStv Premiership. Pirates will host Cape Town City at Orlando Stadium on Wednesday, before facing-off against arch rivals Chiefs at FNB Stadium on Saturday.
Riveiro aims to bag nine points in three games by the end of this week to ensure that Cape Town City and SuperSport United, in second and third place respectively, don't extend the gap. Even so, the Pirates coach doesn't want to look too far ahead, saying they'll only look at the log at the end of the term. Bucs are just two points behind City and SuperSport, who are both level on 31 points.
“It's really important to keep tabs with the teams above us. We are in a nine points week from today [after the win over Polokwane] until next Saturday [when they face Chiefs],'' Riveiro said in Polokwane.
“Yes, we go game by game but we know that this is a crucial moment of the season. We can't miss our chances, especially when the team above us don't get the results. We have to take that opportunity to narrow the gap and maybe leapfrog one of them. But yeah, we will see the log at the end of the season. For now, we just have to continue performing.''
Riveiro also cautioned his industrious midfielder, Makhehleni Makhaula, that starting all Bucs' three games since action resumed after the Afcon-induced hiatus, doesn't necessarily mean he's arrived.
“After the break, we started playing with Makhaula in one of the positions that we have in the central midfield but nobody owns a position here. We have 36 players in the squad and all of them have quality, that's why they came to the club.''
Riveiro aims for nine points in crucial week
Pirates target three wins to close gap
Image: BACKPAGEPIX /SAMUEL SHIVAMBU
Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro has emphasised the importance of staying within touching distance of teams above them, describing this week as a “nine points” week with Cape Town Spurs and Kaizer Chiefs looming large.
Placed-fourth on the log, Pirates grabbed a crucial win away against Polokwane City at the weekend, thanks to Evidence Makgopa's solitary unanswered strike. The victory at Peter Mokaba Stadium also saw the Sea Robbers snap their three-game winless streak in the DStv Premiership. Pirates will host Cape Town City at Orlando Stadium on Wednesday, before facing-off against arch rivals Chiefs at FNB Stadium on Saturday.
Riveiro aims to bag nine points in three games by the end of this week to ensure that Cape Town City and SuperSport United, in second and third place respectively, don't extend the gap. Even so, the Pirates coach doesn't want to look too far ahead, saying they'll only look at the log at the end of the term. Bucs are just two points behind City and SuperSport, who are both level on 31 points.
“It's really important to keep tabs with the teams above us. We are in a nine points week from today [after the win over Polokwane] until next Saturday [when they face Chiefs],'' Riveiro said in Polokwane.
“Yes, we go game by game but we know that this is a crucial moment of the season. We can't miss our chances, especially when the team above us don't get the results. We have to take that opportunity to narrow the gap and maybe leapfrog one of them. But yeah, we will see the log at the end of the season. For now, we just have to continue performing.''
Riveiro also cautioned his industrious midfielder, Makhehleni Makhaula, that starting all Bucs' three games since action resumed after the Afcon-induced hiatus, doesn't necessarily mean he's arrived.
“After the break, we started playing with Makhaula in one of the positions that we have in the central midfield but nobody owns a position here. We have 36 players in the squad and all of them have quality, that's why they came to the club.''
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