20 hours Ago
Pirates welcome Al Ahly for what is expected to be an appetising contest between the two clubs expected to take the two qualifying spots in Group C. The Buccaneers have chosen to play this match in the afternoon in conditions that will not favour the visitors, who are going through their winter months back home in Egypt. What the Spaniard has done at the club – which includes five trophies in the last 25 months – has been the reason why numbers in the stands have been growing at this famous venue in Soweto also known as Esigodini sika Maminzela.
Orlando Stadium now has a ‘feel good’ vibe going on with the sound of the drum in the stands getting louder with every match that Pirates play. Saturday’s fixture will carry the significance of being game number 50 that Riveiro has taken charge of at Orlando since joining the club. No better occasion for the Spaniard’s half century at Orlando than a contest against the most successful club in the Champions League.
The count to 50 will be reached minus the two home games in the league against Kaizer Chiefs which have been played at FNB Stadium since Riveiro arrived. Pirates were also fixtured as the home team in four of the five cup finals that they have won, but none were played at Orlando. Riveiro’s first match in charge at Orlando was in the original Soweto Derby against Moroka Swallows with Bienvenu Eva Nga scoring the solitary which won the game for Pirates.
Since then, games won at this venue under the soft-spoken coach have been more than those drawn or lost. Riveiro has already become only the second coach to reach 100 games in charge at the Soweto giants during one spell through the PSL era years..
