Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro has reacted to his side’s victory in the MTN8 final, which secured him his first trophy as Buccaneers coach.
Pirates beat AmaZulu in Saturday’s final at Moses Mabhida Stadium thanks to a first-half goal by Monnapule Saleng.
The Buccaneers have now lifted the trophy for a fourth time – more than any other Premier Soccer League side since MTN took over the sponsorship in 2008, leading Riveiro to laud his side.
“So happy, so glad to have the opportunity to play a final with a club like Pirates, with this support behind us,” he said on SuperSport TV.
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“The way the players approached the game, with all the difficulties that we’ve suffered in the last two weeks. How we managed to compose ourselves in this way.
“I’m a very proud coach.”
Riveiro also discussed the early injury to his defender Nkosinathi Sibisi, who had to be replaced by Paseka Mako after just four minutes.
“It’s a big problem, obviously with the first ball of the game, we suffered an injury in the department where we were having problems,” he added.
“But you see the guys, how they reacted. They do not lose the focus, they continue with the plan. It doesn’t matter who is coming to the starting XI, they are all training very well, they are all prepared, they all are humble and happy at the same time.”
