Orlando Pirates are maturing with every passing game. That pleases coach Jose Riveiro, who believes that will help them to weather the storms this season.
Pirates reached the CAF Champions League’s group stage for the first time in five years on Saturday after beating Jwaneng Galaxy 3-0 on aggregate in the final qualifiers.
The Buccaneers won 1-0 in the return leg at home via Monnapule Saleng’s late goal, adding to the 2-0 victory they bagged in the first leg a week ago in Gaborone.
This was the second time in less than three days that Saleng had left it till late, having scored a stoppage-time winner in the 2-1 win over Chippa United in the Premiership.
While Riveiro preferably wants his troops to kill off the game from the start, he’s still pleased with their tenacity to grind out a result, even if they are not at their best on the day.
After all, their Achilles heel last season was their inability to kill off matches or fight until the final whistle after a slow start, especially at home.
“Absolutely,” said Riveiro of their maturity. “Last season, we needed to be extremely good in every game to get the results, and when we were not, it was difficult – always collecting draws.
“We must contextualise today’s game. It was the third game in a space of a week – we played last Saturday in Botswana, played Chippa at home in a difficult game, and then today.
“Jwaneng was also a difficult team. We started with the same starting line-ups, only making two changes in today’s team.
“So, we are getting the experience and knowledge to replicate a good performance without changing so much, something that will be key going into the season.
“We are exploring a new space as a group of how we can get the results. I know that today it wasn’t beautiful, but I think we had a professional performance and got the results that we wanted.
“Sometimes football is like this (it won’t always be pretty). So, I am happy to see the team growing, especially in this direction.”
Pirates grew in leaps and bounds in the preliminaries this season, compared to last term, where they crashed out in the last round against Jwaneng on home soil.
☠️ FT|| @orlandopirates 1 v 0 @jwanenggalaxy
— Orlando Pirates (@orlandopirates) September 21, 2024
(Agg : 3-0)
🎙️ Monnapule Saleng
🏆 #TotalEnergiesCAFCL 2nd Round Prelim |Leg 2 of 2
🆚 @jwanenggalaxy
🗓️ 21 September 2024
🏟️ Orlando Stadium
⚫️⚪️🔴⭐️#OrlandoPirates #OnceAlways pic.twitter.com/k9QvMKcZPi
They were so good that they were unbeaten in all four matches, kept four clean sheets and scored seven goals, while their only blemish was the 0-0 draw away to Disciples FC.
“We have more experience,” Riveiro acknowledged. “With the quality and experience that we have in our group, the decisions are getting better. That’s giving us better results.
“But we cannot be fully satisfied. We must analyse the spaces where we can be better in the future. We cannot feel relaxed because results are coming in the last games.
“If we can’t move, the opponent will. This is a constant evolution, and that’s what we are looking for in the team. These types of games only help you to be more mature as a coach and player.
“So, the opportunity to compete with the best teams on the continent in the group stage is a fantastic new (development) for this group.”
With the group stage a different kettle of fish, Riveiro will bank on his team’s collective and individual exploits to come to the fore in search of a knockout berth.
Saleng has been Pirates’ main man since the start of the season up front, scoring two goals and registering an assist in seven matches across all competitions.
The 26-year-old’s early red-hot form, after an offish campaign last season, augurs well for Riveiro, who wants every member of his team to be at their best in what’s expected to be a tough competition.
However, Riveiro didn’t want to give Saleng special praise after another match-winning performance on Saturday, saying the team plays according to the strength of individuals.
☠️ ⏪️ 𝗬𝗔𝗗𝗛𝗖𝗧𝗔𝗠 ⏪️
🎤 Sipho Chaine
🏆 #TotalEnergiesCAFCL Preliminary Round Leg 2 of 2
🆚 @jwanenggalaxy
🏟 Orlando Stadium
🗓️ 21 September 2024
⚫⚪🔴⭐#OrlandoPirates#OnceAlways pic.twitter.com/yu5W2j6QBq
“I think we did a fantastic job not to give hope to the opponent. We reduced the opportunity for the opponent to score to zero,” Riveiro said.
“We only allowed them to have shots from medium to long distance – not really giving them the opportunity to feel they could beat us here at home.
“That’s producing later opportunities for different individuals. We know our players very well, and what they can do in different moments of the game.”