Orlando Pirates’ Jose Riveiro has made a bold declaration about the club’s title ambitions as the 2024/25 Betway Premiership season approaches.
Riveiro admits that winning the Betway Premiership title will be one of his most satisfying achievements.
At the helm of Pirates, the Spaniard has had one of the most convincing periods of dominance in knockout competitions. The Soweto giants have won the MTN8 title and the Nedback Cup twice apiece and on the bounce. But the Betway Premiership title has proved to be elusive.
The unprecedented nature of this run of knockout title wins in South Africa is one of many reasons that the 2024/25 season will be Riveiro’s most challenging.
Nevertheless, a good number of pre-season predictions have tipped Pirates to wrest the title away from Mamelodi Sundowns.
Orlando Pirates players celebrating
‘POINTS WILL BE EXPENSIVE’: ORLANDO PIRATES COACH RIVEIRO
Coach Riveiro is bracing for a mammoth task as he aims to win the Betway Premiership title, stating that taking points from Pirates won’t be easy this season.
“It’s one of the responsibilities that comes with it; we need to fight for it [PSL title]. We are in it, so we must prove why we are there as the players and coaching staff,” said Riveiro.
“Now, we are going to try again. We are going to try to improve our football because it’s the way that we trust, and it is going to take us to that place where we want to be.
“And we understand that it’s going to be a difficult task, a difficult season. But at the same time, I think it’s going to be much more equal. I have a feeling that this season, points are going to be much more expensive.
“It’s the third time that we are going in for the league title. It has been the same in the previous ones but there was a team that did it better than everybody else. And that’s why we finished in the second position,” added Riveiro.
RIVEIRO PRAYING FOR A STORMING START IN THE 2024/25 BETWAY PREMIERSHIP
In addition, Riveiro is praying for his men to start the Betway Premiership season on a high note, something they have struggled to do in recent seasons.
They will begin the new league campaign with a home date against Chippa United on the 18th of September.
“We want to try and have a good beginning; it’s going to be important. It was one of the moments of the season that we, in the last two seasons, were not at the level that we should be. And we want to make sure we have a good start to the league.
“By now, we have done well in the previous two competitions and we want to stay in the same dynamic. Our focus is to collect points more frequently than in the last two seasons.
“Like I said, the points are going to be expensive for all of us. I can see more than six teams doing well and already looking for improvements.”
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