Orlando Pirates has questioned the logic behind sections of supporters ‘bullying’ players but hailed the ‘crazy’ support he didn’t expect in away games.
Siyanbonga Mpontshane and Terrence Dzvukamanja has often been singled out by some supporters at Orlando Stadium who’ve jeered them when making their way onto the pitch.
The Spaniard feels it’s counter-productive for their own supporters to further add pressure and break down the confidence of their players when going through a bad patch.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea to not support one of our players when it he’s just about to go onto the field and replace one of the players on the field, it doesn’t matter what his name is, or his position,” Riveiro said at Orlando Stadium on Sunday evening.
“It’s nice when you are playing away and the fans are bullying you, you get motivated for that – it’s not that nice when you are playing at home and fans [don’t support you] – but I think I answered this question the last week.
“When you write your [story] I would appreciate it if you complete my answer, not only the first part – I think we are making an issue about something that’s residual, a small number of people.”
While he was critical of the questionable supporters of the club, he admits seeing how many Pirates fans in away games is something that has blown him away – but as he revisited the mental side of things, he backed the players to come out stronger.
“Overall the people coming to the stadium don’t doubt our players, they support until the end – if we play away, the support that we get is crazy, I’ve never seen anything like that in my life. When we’re in Durban, Cape Town, wherever, Polokwane.
“So thank you to our fans, the ones who cannot afford to come to the stadium as well, the ones supporting from home, I don’t think we should make an issue about this, but bullying is terrible in every scenario. In schools, stadiums, offices, everywhere. It’s something we should take seriously because it costs things that sometimes we don’t want to talk about.
“It’s something too deep to talk about right now in a post-match [press conference] but I’m so happy with Mpontshane, his professionalism and handling the situation, he’s a strong guy.”
