Riveiro Offers Praise to Chiefs Despite their League Standing

José Riveiro, the head coach of Orlando Pirates, believes that the current league standing of Kaizer Chiefs is misleading, arguing that they are more formidable than their position suggests.

The Pirates are preparing to face the Chiefs in the 181st Soweto Derby at the sold-out FNB Stadium this Saturday (15:30).

Under the guidance of Nasreddine Nabi, the Chiefs have had a rocky season, which contrasts sharply with the performance of the Pirates. Presently, Chiefs are in fifth place in the league with 21 points from 14 matches, whereas Pirates hold the second spot with 27 points, having played three fewer games due to their commitments in the CAF Champions League quarter-finals.

This disparity in games played was also noted by Chiefs coach Nabi in a press conference on Thursday.

“We aim to remain competitive with a top team right now,” Riveiro stated, referring to the league leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, who have accumulated 33 points from 15 matches.

“We cannot afford to drop points. The importance of securing three points is paramount as we strive to remain in contention for that position, and we need to focus as much as possible on our goal of achieving three points.

“There will be events surrounding the stadium, but our priority is to perform at our best and utilize our strengths rather than getting distracted by the occasion, as is often suggested.”

When asked about his expectations for Saturday’s match, Riveiro commented, “It should be an exhilarating game. I think the Chiefs are executing their game plan quite well this season. I genuinely feel that their league position does not reflect their performances up to this point.

“They are creating numerous opportunities in every match and playing attractive football, which is precisely what we aim to achieve with Pirates.

“If both teams stick to the style of play we have displayed in recent matches, I believe it will be an engaging encounter for the fans.”

Both teams come into the derby after successful outings in the Nedbank Cup round of 32. Pirates defeated Richards Bay 3-1 in Durban last weekend, while Chiefs recorded a commanding 4-0 win against Free Agents, priming them for an eagerly awaited showdown.