Orlando Pirates legend Lucky Lekgwathi has weighed in on whether coach Jose Riveiro is capable of winning the league title, having won four domestic cups in his first two seasons at the club.
Last season, the Soweto giants finished second in the DStv Premiership [now known as Betway Premiership] with 50 points after 30 games.
As a result, the club qualified for the CAF Champions League, where they have already booked a place in the group stage phase of the tournament after beating Botswana giants Jwaneng Galaxy 3-0 on aggregate in the second preliminary round of the Champions League.
In the new season, the Riveiro-coached side has played three league games and won them all. The Sea Robbers are second in the Betway Premiership table with nine points, equal on points with log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns. Only goal difference separates the two teams.
In addition, Riveiro has guided Pirates to this year’s MTN8 final, where they face Stellenbosch FC on Saturday, 5 October, at Moses Mabhida Stadium in KwaZulu-Natal.
LUCKY LEKGWATHI ON JOSE RIVEIRO WINNING THE LEAGUE
Lekgwathi has insisted that Riveiro can win the league given the back-to-back domestic cup trophies he has won since he arrived at the club, and now he’s on the verge of adding another trophy to his record at the ‘Happy People’.
However, Lekgwathi admitted that it won’t be a walk in the park because a league is a “marathon”, and the club tends to be inconsistent due to injuries and suspensions.
“Let me tell you, I’m speaking as an Orlando Pirates supporter because this is what I want or I wish for the coach to win the league,” told FARPost.
“He has shown that he is a cup specialist now. He has the experience of winning the cup. It’s not easy to win two trophies back-to-back, but every supporter of Orlando Pirates wants to see the coach win the league.
“You know, winning the league is something that is not easy because a league is a marathon. And the other thing is that we lack consistency in the team. I think sometimes it is due to injuries and suspensions.”
The retired footballer continued: “But if the coach could get the experience of winning the league, we will be like Mamelodi Sundowns and start winning it more often. So, for me, it is my wish to see the coach win it because it is something that is missing, and we want it.”
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