Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro says he is not about to give up on the title chase despite Mamelodi Sundowns’ 21-point gap over them midway through the 2022/23 season.
Pirates have lost three successive games, falling far behind their bitter rivals Sundowns who have won the last 10 games.
Nonetheless, Riveiro still feels there is no need to give up as they kick off the second round with a tie against Golden Arrows on Saturday.
JOSE RIVEIRO UPBEAT
Of course, Pirates have played a game less than Sundowns, who kicked off their second round with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Chippa United on Tuesday.
“We’re going through different moments, bad moments, unfortunately. That’s why the winner, in the end, is the one who manages to do it better in the moments when you’re not at your best,” the Spaniard told journalists at the Rand Stadium on Wednesday.
“At this moment, there is a team that is getting a big advantage over other competitors.”
He admitted playing catch up with the defending champions Sundowns would be an insurmountable task.
“It’s gonna be very tough for all of us even to get close. Are we giving up? Never? I don’t think it’s only Pirates. It’s a competition.
“We are competitive people. We will never give up; I don’t think that SuperSport or Chiefs will give up. It’s a competition. We are going all the way until the end,” he added.
Riveiro, who is in his first season in the PSL, said it was normal for teams to go through a rough patch.
The objective, he added, was to stay focused and strive to collect maximum points in every fixture they play.
WHAT’S THE OBJECTIVE?
“The objective right now is to collect the next three points and the next three points and don’t see what’s going on in the rest of the competition.”
The 47-year-old mentor says he is not even aware of how the log is looking at the top.
“I’m 100% honest if I say that I don’t know who is the second, third, or fourth at this moment because I’m trying to focus on the next game and climb the mountain.”
Pirates welcome Arrows at the Orlando Stadium on Saturday. Kick off is 15h30.
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