We’ve not arrived yet Riveiro after big win
Coach urges his troops to stay levelheaded as they face Usuthu
Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro has stressed the importance of managing the hype after their 7-1 demolition of Golden Arrows at Orlando Stadium at the weekend, reiterating this doesn’t mean they were now world-beaters.
Tshegofatso Mabasa was the star of the show, netting a hattrick to take his DStv Premiership tally to 10 goals. Relebohile Mofokeng, Kabelo Dlamini, Sandile Mthethwa and Karim Kimvuidi were also on target for Pirates, while Lungelo Nguse scored Arrows’ solitary goal.
The big win also saw Bucs close the gap between them and second-placed Stellenbosch to two points, boosting their chances of toppling the Cape Winelands outfit to achieve their dream of qualifying for the CAF Champions League. Even so, Riveiro urged his troops to remain levelheaded, insisting they were still the same team they were before this 7-1 win.
“We must manage these results properly, understanding that now suddenly we are not the best team in the world. We are the same team that we were three days ago but now more [we are] accurate [in converting chances],” Riveiro said.
“We have to continue doing the same things and trusting in our football in the same way to continue getting good results.”
The Sea Robbers hope to build on this big victory when they take on another KZN side, AmaZulu, in the Nedbank Cup quarterfinals at
Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday (6pm). Pirates will be without their centre-backs Nkosinathi Sibisi and Tapelo Xoki through suspensions.
Sibisi missed the Arrows clash as well after being redcarded in the previous game against Swallows, while Xoki accumulated his fourth yellow card. To make matters worse, Olisa Ndah is still recovering from an unknown injury.
Should Ndah not recover in time, Pirates will have to rely on a new central defensive pairing of Mthethwa and Thabiso Sesane, who made his first league start of the season against Arrows. Mthethwa entered the fray to replace Xoki at the start of the second half against Arrows. Skipper Innocent Maela, despite being a natural left-back, can also slot in at the heart of defence.
Golden Arrows coach Steve Komphela insists he won’t be too hard on his players after their 7-1 demolition by Orlando Pirates at Orlando Stadium on Saturday.
He feels they played “some good football” at times during the DStv Premiership match.
Tshegofatso Mabasa netted a hat-trick to take his league tally to 10, to match the total by Mamelodi Sundowns’ Lucas Ribeiro Costa as the league leading goalscorers.
Relebohile Mofokeng, Kabelo Dlamini, Sandile Mthethwa and Karim Kimvuidi also registered their names on the scoresheet for Pirates. Lungelo Nguse scored a consolation goal for the Durban side.
It had to take a rampant showing by the Sea Robbers to hand Komphela his first defeat since his return to Arrows early last month.
“I’ve only been with this team for less than a month. I am working with players whom I’ve worked with before ... others we started with together. I can’t be too hard on them but fact remains, they know things we work on and when those things don’t happen, we are all not happy,” Komphela said.
“I thought, with utmost humility, Arrows did play some good football. We came out in certain moments... you could see that they were intentional with what they were doing.
“It is what it is, we will go back and work with players again. Whether you scream or break bottles or whatever, it won’t help.”
Komphela further reiterated that there’s really no need to make a big deal out of this heavy defeat, implying his troops’ attitude was okay on the day and he would have had a problem if the attitude wasn’t good.
“There are moments where you have to break bottles; when there’s an issue of attitude or complacence but when you see people trying [it’s hard to be too hard on them] and mistakes are mistakes because these are genuine mistakes.
“Your job as a coach is to assist players and try to lead,” the Arrows mentor stated.
Arrows’ next game is against provincial foes Royal AM in the league at Mpumalanga Stadium in Hammarsdale on April 20.
It is what it is, we will go back and work with the players again