Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro has downplayed the notion that the Soweto giants are gunning for the league title despite back-to-back victories at the start of their 2024/25 Betway Premiership campaign. 

The Buccaneers have picked up momentum in the opening stages of the new season, displaying a rich vein of form with seven wins and two draws in the nine matches they have played across all competitions so far. In addition, Riveiro’s charges have kept six clean sheets in the process, scoring 18 goals and conceding three, thanks to a solid defense that includes Olisa Ndah and academy graduate Thabiso Sesane at the heart of it. 

The Spanish mentor says the victories and their performances serve as a morale boost within the squad and has emphasized the importance of staying grounded and focused to maintain their standards throughout the season. 

“The numbers and the performances that we are putting out right now are helpful for us to confirm that we are working in the right way, ” said Riveiro. 

“But for someone who hasn’t watched our games recently and they see that Pirates have won, probably they will think it was an easy game. “[They will think] ‘these guys are playing fantastic and we are going to win everything this season, etc’. 

“We know how difficult it is, how much we need to continue working, to be humble, to understand that the victories are coming because we are working so hard. “The moment we don’t pay attention there, we won’t find ourselves in this space, so it’s time to keep our feet on the ground, keep looking forward to the horizon. “We know where we want to go, but at the same time, we know that week after week it’s going to be more and more difficult.” 

Riveiro, who guided Pirates to two consecutive wins in their first two league outings for the first time since the 2016/17 season under Muhsin Ertugral, insists that they are not getting ahead of themselves and thinking about winning the league title. 

“We played two games, and we are so happy to collect the maximum points, but right now our full attention, trust me it’s already in Richards Bay – recovering, traveling to Durban to regroup again, ” he said. 

“I think we played three times against Richards Bay last season, we got eliminated in the Carling cup, we drew nil-nil in Durban and we lost the game in Orlando,” Riveiro noted. 

“So, it’s going to be a very tough game, and if we want to collect the maximum points we need to focus only on that one.” 

The Sea Robbers are second-placed on the log standings, level on points with defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns at the summit of the table, and will take on Richards Bay at King Zwelithini Stadium on Sunday.