Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro has downplayed the Soweto Giants’ chances of winning the league title after a strong start to the season, stating that they are not getting ahead of themselves by thinking far ahead. 

The impressive start to the 2024/25 Betway Premiership campaign saw the Buccaneers set a new 

club record, winning their first seven league matches, surpassing a 2002/03 record where they won six on the trot.  

Riveiro’s side currently occupies second place on the log standings with 24 points after nine matches played and a game in hand over Mamelodi Sundowns, who are at the summit of the table with 27 points accumulated. 

Despite showing positive signs to stage a title charge against Sundowns, the Bucs mentor insists that they are taking it one game at a time, and not thinking about being crowned champions of South Africa at the end of the season. 

“It’s about being honest with ourselves, to be committed with what we want, we know that if we want to achieve, we must have short-term goals.  

“People have a right to speak about who is going to win the league, but we are not thinking about that in this particular moment,” Riveiro asserted. 

“We are thinking about this weekend’s match against Magesi and how many points we can collect in January to continue with our objectives in the league and the Champions League. 

“We try to establish short-term goals to always be near the horizon and not be distracted with what is going to happen in four or five months because you can forget what it takes to achieve your objectives at the end of the season,” he continued. 

Ahead of the fixture congestion next year, Riveiro has urged his troops to remain focused and committed to the course at hand, acknowledging the difficulty of the competitions his side is involved in. 

“We will be back training on the 26th and we have to travel to Polokwane on the 28th to play on the 29th, and then we are not stopping after 1 January. We are engaged or we are not, we are committed, or we are not and there’s nothing in the middle,” said the Spanish mentor. 

“So far, the team has managed to be committed in this strange season, It’s December 24 and we are playing match number nine in the league. Still, there are about 30 more games this season in all competitions. 

“It may be up to 35 depending on how well we do, we are not playing in easy competitions. PSL is not easy and the CAF Champions League also. So, we know what it takes, and everybody is committed to the target and that’s the only way,” Riveiro added. 

Following their emphatic 8-1 win over Marumo Gallants on Tuesday, the Sea Robbers will wrap up 

the year with a trip to bottom-placed Magesi FC at Old Peter Mokaba Stadium with the hope that Richards Bay holds their own at home against Downs on Saturday.