Jose Riveiro reflects on his first season at Orlando Pirates

While setting his sights on the Nedbank Cup trophy, Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro has reflected on his first season at the Buccaneers.

The Spaniard mentor is looking to end the season with two pieces of silverware when his side square off with Sekhukhune United in the FA final on Saturday, 27 May at Loftus Versfeld at 6 pm.

He lifted MTN8 when Ezimnyama Ngenkani beat AmaZulu 1-0 in the final in November last year. He also secured the CAF Champions League spot with Pirates by finishing second in the DStv Premiership table.

However, Riveiro feels what he achieved this season was “not enough”. He believes his side could have done better.

JOSE RIVEIRO REFLECTS ON HIS FIRST SEASON AT ORLANDO PIRATES

“I don’t measure the level of success with titles, as coaches we think about today and have one eye on the near future,” said Riveiro.

“I think we have reasons to be optimistic, to be positive about what’s coming for us. We will start again in the next two months with zero points but what we achieved in this season is very important.

“We have one more game to play with one more title that’s in our hands to get. But still, it’s not enough.

“We want to go forward, we want to challenge every team next season, starting with zero points again like I said. And for that, we need to be curious, we need to be self-critique, and we need to go really deep to understand what happens in the season.

“Look for rooms to improve because there are rooms to improve, there are, absolutely. But I’m happy with the progression of the team. I’m happy with the progression of every individual in the squad, the ones who are regularly playing and the ones who are not because I can only play 11.

“Everybody is working in a fantastic way, obviously we’re competitive people. We want to touch the silverware every now and then. And in a club like Pirates, it gives me an opportunity to be in those crucial games.

“It’s not because of me, it’s because of everybody around, the structure, the level of players and that we’re trying to do well as a collective.”

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