We were better prepared - Orlando Pirates coach Riveiro
Orlando Pirates coach, Jose Riveiro says his side was better prepared when they welcomed Djabal FC to the Orlando Stadium on Friday in the return leg of the preliminary round of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.
Following a 1-0 win in Comoros, the Buccanners finished off the job in style with a clinical 3-0 victory at home thanks to a brace from the dangerous Zakhele Lepasa and a strike by Patrick Maswanganyi.
Speaking after his side’s progression to the next stage of the competition, the Spaniard who is having his first experience of continental football said the return leg was better prepared for by his side, as they knew what to expect following their trip to Comoros.
“We were better prepared than in the first game when we did not know so much about the opponent and I think we were in control every time. It was not easy because we were forced to take the initiative every minute of the game and that sometimes makes that feeling of being in a hurry. We were looking for the first goal to consolidate the result. After that, we didn’t continue the same way, we should have been more aggressive, looking for the second goal and have more time in the opponent half,” said the coach.
Pirates, along with Mamelodi Sundowns have been the two clubs in South Africa that have really made a mark on the continent, with the Buccaneers lifting the title back in 1995 and coming second in 2013.
They also fell short in the 2021/22 TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup final when they narrowly lost out to RS Berkane.
With a successful domestic season under the belt, the South Africans are tipped to once again do well on the continent in the new campaign.
Sharing his assessment of the two-legged affair with Djabal, Riveiro expressed his satisfaction of this side’s performance.
“Overall, two good legs. We didn’t concede goals and we were solid. Credit to the boys. It’s not easy because it’s complicated against a team with a low block. We didn’t allow them to run in transitions and overall, happy to be in the next round”, concluded the coach.
Up next for the former champions is trip to their neighboring country of Botswana to face Jwaneng Galaxy in the first leg on 15 September, with the return leg penciled for 29 September.