In an honest assessment following Orlando Pirates’ heartbreaking CAF Champions League exit, a dejected Jose Riveiro wrestled with the conflicting emotions of pride and deep disappointment.
Riveiro addressed the media after Pirates’ dream of an all-South African Champions League final were dashed on Friday night in Cairo.
Despite twice taking the lead against Pyramids FC through Mohau Nkota and Relebohile Mofokeng in the semi-final second-leg, the Buccaneers fell 3-2 at the 30 June Stadium.
Pyramids fought back on both occasions, with Ramadan Sobhi’s goal and a brace from DR Congo’s Fiston Mayele, including an 84th-minute winner, securing their spot in the final against Mamelodi Sundowns.
Earlier in the evening, Sundowns had progressed on away goals after a 1-1 draw with Al Ahly at a packed Cairo International Stadium.
PRIDE AND PAIN: RIVEIRO GRAPPLES WITH PIRATES’ SEMI-FINAL EXIT IN CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Riveiro described Pirates’ first defeat in the Champions League this campaign as ‘cruel’, admitting that his troops need some time to process such a bitter pill.
While the disappointment of the semi-final exit was palpable, Riveiro also made sure to express deep pride in the unwavering efforts and overall performance displayed by his Pirates squad throughout their journey.
“Congratulations to Pyramids for going to the finals. Secondly, congratulations to our players; our group for the fantastic performance that they gave us and all of our fans during this season,” said Riveiro.
“It’s been second to none, honestly. We are out of the competition [Champions League] after losing our first match in the whole tournament. A tough one to swallow, to digest, we will need a little bit of time because I think it’s a very cruel result.
“We played, I think, a really good game. It was a top performance away from home against an excellent team, but we couldn’t control two moments of the game where we got the lead two times, and they managed to equalise almost immediately after our goals. That was probably the key that we couldn’t make it to be leading the game for a little bit longer to create a little bit more of uncertainty to the opponent and at the end of the of the game when the game was about to die, 2-2, set-play; well executed takes them [Pyramids] to the final
“So it’s a mix of pride and sadness at the same time, but I guess it’s a normal thing, and we’re falling, we’re getting out of the competition, but we do it in a good way, or in a way that we all have to feel proud about ourselves.”
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