Riveiro Weighs In On Possible Sundowns Clash In CAFCL Quarterfinals
Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro has weighed in on the prospect of facing Mamelodi Sundowns in the quarterfinals of the CAF Champions League. The draw is set to be conducted on 20 February in Qatar, Doha.
The Brazilians, after finishing second in Group B, are one of the three opponents Riveiro’s side is likely to face as they topped Group C ahead of Egyptian giants Al Ahly. Algerian champions MC Alger and Pyramids of Egypt are the other two possible opponents.
Miguel Cardoso’s charges have already claimed Pirates’ scalp this season after thrashing them 4-1 in a top-of-the-table Betway Premiership encounter earlier this month – a result that wounded the Buccaneers’ ego.
Now, with the probability of the two sides colliding in Africa’s elite club competition, Riveiro takes no issue in meeting the Tshwane giants, highlighting that the clash would simplify the travel logistics and opponent analysis.
“It’s one of the three [teams] that we can get in that draw. If it’s Sundowns we don’t have to travel that far so it can be good for the planning of both teams. We know each other very well and we play each other again on the 15th [of March],” he said.
The 49-year-old tactician went on to highlight that they don’t look at the stature of a team when predicting draws in cup competitions, stating that they always seek to be pitted against a club that will suit their style of play.
“For me to make any comment about possibilities of the draw, we have our conversations amongst ourselves in the technical staff about which one can be better for us, basically for the way we play our football more than anything else,” added Riveiro.
Although he welcomes the probable reality of an all-South African tie at the highest level of African football, the Bucs coach says he would prefer facing Sundowns in the latter stages of the competition, insisting it will be beneficial for both teams.
“If it’s Sundowns I think it’s going to be a big clash for the country, it will attract a lot of attention one more time but hopefully it’s not this time. Hopefully, it’s a little bit later in the competition. It would even be much better for both of us if that game happened just at the end.”
This will be the Soweto giants’ first appearance in the knockout stages of the CAF Champions League since the 2012/13 season where they lost to Al Ahly in the final. In addition, the current campaign saw them make their first group stage appearance since the 2018/19 term.
