As Orlando Pirates prepare for the CAF Champions League semi-final against Pyramids FC, Jose Riveiro has made an honest admission about their Egyptian opposition.
Riveiro’s troops will host Pyramids FC in the first-leg of the Champions League semis on Saturday at FNB Stadium instead of their usual home ground, Orlando Stadium. Kick-off is at 18:00.
The venue change is due to a previously scheduled three-day Easter conference at Orlando Stadium, hosted by Grace Bible Church. The conference, which runs from Friday, 18 April, to Sunday, 20 April, coincides with the scheduled semi-final.
Pirates coach Riveiro, reflecting on Pyramids ahead of their upcoming clash, acknowledged the Cairo side as the toughest opponent the Buccaneers have faced in their Champions League journey this season.
But with silverware shimmering into view across three fronts – the Nedbank Cup, the Betway Premiership title, and the Champions League trophy, Pirates under Riveiro’s guidance in his final season with the club, are determined to etch their names in history with an unprecedented treble.
“I think they are the most difficult team we haven’t played yet this season, and we are about to play them,” said Riveiro at FNB Stadium after Pirates’ training session on Friday.
‘THEY ARE NOT IN THE SEMI-FINALS BY CHANCE,’ WARNS RIVEIRO ABOUT PYRAMIDS
Pyramids FC are currently at the summit of the Egyptian Premier League table as the playoffs progress and have also reached the final of the Egyptian Cup.
The Egyptian side is in the semi-finals of the Champions League for the first time, securing their spot after a 4-3 aggregate victory over Morocco’s FAR Rabat.
“From my point of view, the fact that they are leading the domestic league, doing well in the cup competition as well; brilliant participation in the Champions League this season says a lot about them,” added Riveiro.
“But after analysing them and knowing a little bit more about the way they play football and the complexity of what is required to stop them…they are not in the semi-finals by chance like the rest of us, Mamelodi Sundowns and Al Ahly. We are here because we did things very well through the competition.
“They are a difficult team to control in defence, a lot of talent in the front four. Experience, they know very well, and they master their way. They are trying to play football in possession, so we know about the importance of making sure that tomorrow [Saturday] we can be in our best version; otherwise, any other version is not going to be enough.
“We accept the challenge. We are ready to go and we really want to test ourselves one more time in this moment of the competition, and let’s see how good we can be on the day. I’m sure there’s going to be an equal game,” concluded the Bucs coach.
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