Riveiro Criticizes FNB Pitch After Pirates’ Derby Win
Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro expressed his concerns regarding the pitch quality at FNB Stadium after their thrilling 2-1 comeback victory against rivals Kaizer Chiefs in a packed match at the Calabash on Saturday afternoon.
Evidence Makgopa evened the score following Glody Makabi Lilepo’s early goal just two minutes into the match, with rising star Relebohile Mofokeng netting the decisive goal in the second half, ensuring the Buccaneers secured all three points.
Currently, the Buccaneers trail the league leaders, Mamelodi Sundowns, by 12 points, who triumphed 2-0 over relegation-threatened Cape Town City, with goals from Tashreeq Matthews and Iqraam Rayners.
Despite the encouraging win after a series of disappointing outings, including losses against Pyramids FC in the CAF Champions League and Sekhukhune United in the Betway Premiership, the Spanish coach emphasized the need for improvements on the FNB Stadium pitch.
“What can I say about the field here [at FNB Stadium]? It warrants reflection and constructive feedback. We aim to deliver an exciting football experience, but we frequently face challenges—either our performance declines or the conditions aren’t favorable,” Riveiro stated.
“I’m addressing all football teams, including Pirates and Chiefs today. We face a variety of weather conditions; we’re not playing indoors. The field should ideally support quality play,” he further noted.
“For players to excel, quality football pitches are essential. I believe we can achieve this in our country, but it requires a comprehensive review and dedication to improvement.”
Despite his concerns regarding the playing conditions, Riveiro acknowledged that the pitch was in better condition than during their previous encounter with Pyramids, as the players were accustomed to the conditions from just a week earlier.
“I appreciate the inquiry, but it’s misleading to say I was worried about [the pitch condition]; perhaps my attention was focused elsewhere at that moment. We faced Pyramids here just a week ago,” the Bucs coach commented.
“We had one training session on a challenging, slippery field. Today, I’m pleased to see that unlike our last match where many players slipped, we managed to remain upright, which was an improvement.
“However, maintaining balance continued to be a challenge for both teams, particularly during quick plays and transitions.”
The Pirates will clash with their fierce rivals again in the Nedbank Cup final scheduled for 10 May at the iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium. The Sea Robbers aim to secure their third consecutive Ke Yona Cup title, while Amakhosi look to end a decade-long trophy drought.