Riveiro takes no chances

With games coming thick and fast, Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro (above) is happy to have had a week to prepare for their tricky fixture against minnows Hungry Lions in the last-16 of the Nedbank Cup at Orlando Stadium today.

The Buccaneers are aiming to defend their title, but Riveiro knows it won’t be easy, starting with this game against the Northern Cape Motsepe Foundation Championship outfit.

The Pirates mentor believes this game will allow them to gain a positive result at home, after their last clash at Orlando ended in a disappointing 1-1 league draw with Cape Town Spurs.

He is delighted, however, that he goes into this tie with the team having beaten bitter rivals Kaizer Chiefs 3-2 in the Soweto derby at FNB Stadium last Saturday.

“Games are coming quickly for us. Fortunately, we had one week to prepare for this one, and again having an opportunity to play in Orlando is an opportunity for us to perform better than the last time (in Orlando) when we had a PSL (Premiership) fixture,” said Riveiro.

Riveiro, whose charges have already faced a lower league side Crystal Lake FC in the competition, beating them 6-0, emphasised the importance of taking the game against Lions seriously, knowing very well how lower league teams have upset top-tier sides in the past.

“We don’t see ourselves like we are in a party situation because the opponent is playing in the second-tier. We know the story about these games, we are preparing ourselves with the maximum respect for the match,” added Riveiro.

The Sea Robbers will face a Lions side that has been doing quite well in the National First Division (NFD).

The Northern Cape-based club are in sixth place on the log with 31 points after 21 matches.