Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro has explained how the Soweto giants can produce good results both on the domestic and continental stage, with the club still in contention in three competitions.

With the curtains slowly closing on the 2024/25 campaign, Riveiro’s men have a realistic chance of lifting three major trophies in the form of the Betway Premiership, Nedbank Cup, and the coveted CAF Champions League.

Pirates is second-placed in the league and trail defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns by nine points and three games in hand after 20 league outings in the South African top-flight.

At the same time, the Buccaneers are in the final of the Nedbank Cup – a title they aim to clinch for a record three times in a row, against Kaizer Chiefs at Moses Mabhida Stadium on 10 May.

Additionally, Riveiro guided the Mayfair club to the last four of Africa’s premium club competition for the first time since the 2012/13 season.

Now, the Spanish mentor provided insight on how he manages to keep the boat afloat in a season where his charges are competing on all fronts, breaking previous records and creating new club records in the process.

“I don’t think so much about which competition we are playing for because the outcome must be the same all the time. We are not competing in a league where you can say one point here is fine if you’re really competing for a top position,” said Riveiro.

“We know that we cannot afford to lose any game if we want to really compete with the current champions. In the knockout games, it’s the same: you win, or you go home, and for me, that’s the most important [thing].

“We are trying to approach every game to win. Even against MC Alger, although we had a little bit of an advantage coming into the second game, we intended to win the match, and we didn’t change our mentality.”

He added: “Whatever is coming, we try to face the game with the same intention, and that’s the way we handle it. We don’t have any other option, we can’t just stop, we have to go again and again, and the moment you shine at a club like Pirates and decide early in the season that you want to fight for every competition then you have to be consistent with that – we don’t complain.” 

Up next for Pirates is Pyramids in the CAF Champions League first leg semi-final at FNB Stadium this coming weekend. 

Riveiro will be keen to three-peat the competition and make PSL history before stepping down from his position at the end of the season.