Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro has expressed his satisfaction with his team’s flawless start to the 2024/25 campaign, highlighting the importance of picking up points early in the season to mount a title challenge. 

The Buccaneers maintained their winning streak in the Betway Premiership with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Richards Bay thanks to a solitary first-half goal from Evidence Makgopa at Orlando Stadium on Tuesday night. 

The result marked a significant landmark for the Soweto giants as they won seven consecutive matches at the start of a PSL campaign for the first time in the club’s history in what was Riveiro’s 100th game in charge of the team. 

The Spanish mentor says his charges are peaking at the right moment this season, in contrast to the previous two seasons where they would be out of the title race as early as December due to their slow start. 

“We discussed a lot about our start in the previous two seasons that we were not consistent, we dropped too many points early in the season which put us in a position where one would say Pirates is not going to make it again this season by November or December, ” said Riveiro. 

“So, for us, it was really important to have a very good beginning, to start well this season and that means results, so I think it’s a good time to be in that peak. Now it’s about us to keep going, to continue playing football the way we are doing.” 

While the Sea Robbers are enjoying an incredible unbeaten run in the league, Riveiro has warned his charges that opponents will improve and understand their game plan as the season goes on, stressing the need to keep putting the foot on the gas pedal. 

“We need to understand that the opponents will improve, the opponents will understand what we do better game after game, they’re going to stop us somewhere. So, we need to continue in a permanent evolution, football is evolution and progression, but you can’t change to something worse than you are right now, ” the 49-year-old tactician asserted. 

Moreover, the Bucs coach acknowledges the consequences of being at the summit of the table, noting that being log leaders has put a target on their back but remains confident that his team players will be ready for the challenge. 

“What we did is done, now we have to think about what’s coming and understand that the coming games are going to be even more difficult because you’re at the top and you’re winning games, so the opponents will be more cautious about you, so what’s coming is going to be very complicated, but we are going to be ready, ” Riveiro stated. 

Pirates will be back in league action with a home clash against Stellenbosch FC on 30 November, four days after their trip to North Africa where they are set to lock horns with Algerian giants Khanyisa Mayo’s CR Belouizdad in the CAF Champions League in the group stages.