Orlando Pirates aim to write a new story in Nedbank Cup, says Jose Riveiro

Orlando Pirates have enjoyed yet another memorable season under the guidance of coach Jose Riveiro.

Fresh from securing a place in the CAF Champions League semi-finals, they now shift their focus to another important challenge – a Nedbank Cup last-four showdown with Marumo Gallants.

The two sides will meet at the Orlando Stadium on Sunday (3pm kick-off) in what will be a high-stakes, winner-takes-all clash.

The Buccaneers suffered a 2-0 loss the last time the two sides met in the league at the Free State Stadium in March.

Before then, the Sea Robbers left huge scars on the then Dan Malesela-led Gallants side as they inflicted a heavy 8-1 loss at the Orlando Stadium.

Riveiro was suspended for the most recent clash against Bahlabane ba Ntwa due to exceeding the number of yellow cards allowed in a season, but he also believes that previous results will not count for much on Sunday.

“It’s a new story on Sunday; it’s a knockout game, and it will be a game of consequences, and there are only two possible results,” Riveiro said during a press conference in Johannesburg on Thursday.

“The other games that we play usually have three possible results, and it affects the approach to the game.

“This is a different story, as there is a possibility to go to a final, and it requires a different way to look at the game from both teams.

“We have a different experience in this type of competition.

“We are going to try to recover as quickly as possible in a short space of time to be prepared for the game as best as we can, and to do our best to be in the final, with whatever it takes.”

Fresh off their 0-0 draw against MC Alger in the CAF Champions League, the Sea Robbers have won the Nedbank Cup for the last two seasons.

As they look to create history by being the only team to win the tournament in three consecutive seasons for the second time, with Kaizer Chiefs having achieved the same feat previously, they are only two games away from that goal.

The Buccaneers were upset 3-2 by Magesi FC in the first round of the Carling Knockout competition, and Riveiro added that they are not taking anything for granted as they took their lessons from their shortfalls.

The Spanish mentor went on to say that their experience in continental football has made his side sharper, and they will be using their experience in the Champions League for the other competitions they are still participating in.

“We took this continental competition for ourselves like a proper test, for us to see and understand where we are as a group,” he said.

“We managed to play 14 games in the competition, and we conceded only four goals.

“It says quite a lot about how competitive we were in that maximum level and difficult test.

“And we are trying to use that confidence for the rest of the competitions as well to also understand that if we are capable of being that good in that space, then we can also be at the same level when we are playing here at home.

“In the Nedbank Cup, it will be the same type of approach. We are trying to play every game like those types of games.

“Every competition this season is helping us get better.

“But even when things are not going well – like it happened in one of the competitions earlier this season, after we were eliminated in the first game – it helped us understand that if you are not good enough on the day, the competition is over for you, and it’s a learning process.”