‘This isn’t academy football’ – Pirates coach on goal-scoring issues
Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro has addressed their goal-scoring issues as the team continues firing blanks in front of goals.
Pirates have been playing a mouth-watering brand of football under the new coach but failing to put the ball in the back of the net.
Orlando Pirates have failed to score more than one goal per match in all their opening five DStv Premiership games so far.
The Soweto giants opened the season with a slender 1-0 victory against Soweto rivals Swallows FC, followed by a 1-1 draw against Stellenbosch before suffering a shock 1-0 defeat against Daine Klate-coached team Chippa United.
The Sea Robbers bounced back to winning ways with a hard-fought 1-0 win against the tricky Royal AM and played a tight 0-0 affair against SuperSport United at Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium on Sunday.
The Spaniard has since suggested that Orlando Pirates’ recent goal-scoring challenges must be dealt with in a professional manner and not as you do with academy football.
“Improvement at this level, we are not talking about formative football. This is not a football academy.
“This is professional football with a very high level. So improvement is about very small things, and we are working on those small things.
“Like I said, we don’t have enough time to train, so we are doing our best,” the 46-year-old tactician told the media.
The Happy People had an underwhelming 2021/22 season under the tutelage of co-coaches Mandla Ncikazi and Fladlu Davids, who was released by the club.
The Ghost managed to win 10 games and draw 14 while losing six times to finish sixth in the elite league. The Houghton-based side lost in the final of the CAF Confederation Cup to Morrocan side RS Berkane on penalties earlier this year.
Ezimnyama Ngenkani return to Orlando Stadium on Wednesday to take on Marumo Gallants as both teams seek to gain momentum as the title chase heats up.