Riveiro Praises Chiefs Despite League Position
Orlando Pirates coach José Riveiro believes Kaizer Chiefs’ current league position doesn’t accurately reflect their true quality, stating they are better than their standing suggests.
Pirates are set to face Chiefs in the 181st Soweto Derby at a sold-out FNB Stadium on Saturday (15:30).
Chiefs, under coach Nasreddine Nabi, have experienced inconsistent form this season, unlike Pirates. Chiefs currently sit fifth in the league with 21 points from 14 matches, while Pirates are second with 27 points, albeit having played three fewer games due to their CAF Champions League quarter-final run.
This difference in games played was also acknowledged by Chiefs coach Nabi during Thursday’s press conference.
“We want to continue with the race with a top team right now,” Riveiro said, referring to league leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, who have 33 points from 15 games.
“We cannot afford to drop points. The importance of the three points is one more time capital because we want to continue fighting for that space and we need to focus as much as we can in the fact that we are playing for three points.
“The parties will be around the stadium, but we want to be good as we can and try to play with our strength and no play the occasion like people used to say.”
When asked about his expectations for Saturday’s match, Riveiro said, “An entertaining game. I think Chiefs are playing really well this season. I don’t think that the log is a reflection of Chiefs’ performances so far in the league, to be honest.
“They are creating a lot of chances in every game, they are playing an attractive football and that is the same thing we are trying to do with Pirates.
“If we are both, let’s say, loyal to the football we are doing in the previous games, I think it is going to be an interesting game for the fans.”
Both teams enter the derby on the back of victories in the Nedbank Cup round of 32. Pirates defeated Richards Bay 3-1 in Durban last weekend, while Chiefs convincingly beat Free Agents 4-0, setting the stage for a highly anticipated encounter.
