Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro says it’s too early to entertain title talk after Gavin Hunt suggested they’re the only team capable of challenging Mamelodi Sundowns.
Pirates moved to the summit of the 2022/23 DStv Premiership after their narrow 1-0 win over Marumo Gallants at Orlando Stadium on Wednesday evening, with Paseka Mako scoring on his return to football after the horrific injury he suffered last season.
It marked their third win in six games, while they’ve drawn two and lost won as they sit on 11 points, one ahead of Sundowns – who have played a game less. The Buccaneers have only scored four goals in those six games, however, conceded only two and as the old saying goes, defence wins titles.
Last Sunday SuperSpoet United boss, Hunt, stated their signings in the off-season have made their squad the one team that could fight for the league this season but Riveiro refused to entertain the notion.
“It’s too early to talk about those things, we are in a process that we start[ed] seven weeks ago, we played a lot of games in a short period so the process is getting even more difficult because we don’t have time to train,” Riveiro said in response to iDiski Times in the post-match press conference.
“We don’t have time for adaptations, to implement new things, all the things we’re learning is from the competition that we know we need to do better and correct, is not even possible during the weeks, so it’s too early to say who’s going to be fighting for what.
“We know what we have in our hands, I’ve said this many times. I know the badge that we represent – we are ambitious, I don’t think about objectives in December or February this year, I’m thinking about Royal AM, then Martizburg [United] and then the next [game].
“That’s what we try to do with the [team], we don’t see anybody else than the next opponent, so think about Mamelodi or who knows who’s going to be there on top and we need to challenge, we don’t know. So far we’re on top of the table.
“We’re extremely happy because we have to enjoy every good moment, you know during the season, this is one [of the moments] and that’s the only thing we need to think about, celebrate the three points today and from tomorrow think about Royal AM because we know what’s coming and it’s not going to easy.”
Pirates now travel to KwaZulu Natal this weekend for their MTN8 opener against Royal AM before returning to league action on Sunday against the Team of Choice at Harry Gwala Stadium.
