Riveiro prays Downs and Bucs meet again in CAF and Cup final
Win on Sunday will go far in helping youngsters such as Relebohile Mofokeng grow, Pirates coach says
18 March 2025 - 14:34
bySihle Ndebele
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Mbekezeli Mbokazi of Orlando Pirates during the Betway Premiership 2024/25 match between Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns on March 16 at FNB Stadium in Nasrec. Picture: SYDNEY MAHLANGU
Orlando Pirates’ Jose Riveiro thinks Sunday’s game against Mamelodi Sundowns will go far in helping his youngsters such as Relebohile Mofokeng, Mohau Nkota, Mbekezeli Mbokazi and Boitumelo Radiopane grow, hoping to still meet Sundowns this season.
Mofokeng scored both goals in Pirates’ 2-1 league win over Sundowns.
“Sundowns is not a joke … they’re setting the bar high every season and this season is no different,'' Riveiro said.
“The number of points they have at this stage of the season is something probably unique and every time we have an opportunity to play against teams such as Sundowns in our league, it’s an opportunity to get better because it’s a challenge, it’s difficult to control the game against them as we do in other games.”
Pirates and Sundowns are both in the quarterfinals of the CAF Champions League and they could only meet in the final as the semifinal draw saw them avoid each other.
While Sundowns still have to beat Sekhukhune to book their spot in the Nedbank Cup quarterfinal to book a date with Kaizer Chiefs, Pirates are already there and will take on Marumo Gallants at home.
“Hopefully this is not the last time we meet this season, we still have the opportunity to meet again in two competitions and if that happens, it’s going to be really good news for SA football. So I am happy with the development of the team today for our young players … imagine what this type of game means to Mbokazi, Nkotha, Rele and Radiopane … it’s so good. There’s a lot of positive components in this game.”
Pirates beat Sundowns, thanks to 20-year-old Mofokeng’s lightning-fast brace inside the first five minutes, at FNB Stadium on Sunday. The result helped second-placed Pirates cut the gap between them and leaders Sundowns to 15 points while they still have four games in hand. Nkotha, 20, played the last 13 minutes.
Mbokazi, 19, who was starting his fourth game in the top flight, was voted man of the match after doing a stellar job in keeping the superb Sundowns attacker Lucas Ribeiro at bay.
Radiopane, 22, also played the last 13 minutes after replacing Evidence Makgopa in what was only his fifth league game of the season.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Riveiro prays Downs and Bucs meet again in CAF and Cup final
Win on Sunday will go far in helping youngsters such as Relebohile Mofokeng grow, Pirates coach says
Orlando Pirates’ Jose Riveiro thinks Sunday’s game against Mamelodi Sundowns will go far in helping his youngsters such as Relebohile Mofokeng, Mohau Nkota, Mbekezeli Mbokazi and Boitumelo Radiopane grow, hoping to still meet Sundowns this season.
Mofokeng scored both goals in Pirates’ 2-1 league win over Sundowns.
“Sundowns is not a joke … they’re setting the bar high every season and this season is no different,'' Riveiro said.
“The number of points they have at this stage of the season is something probably unique and every time we have an opportunity to play against teams such as Sundowns in our league, it’s an opportunity to get better because it’s a challenge, it’s difficult to control the game against them as we do in other games.”
Pirates and Sundowns are both in the quarterfinals of the CAF Champions League and they could only meet in the final as the semifinal draw saw them avoid each other.
While Sundowns still have to beat Sekhukhune to book their spot in the Nedbank Cup quarterfinal to book a date with Kaizer Chiefs, Pirates are already there and will take on Marumo Gallants at home.
“Hopefully this is not the last time we meet this season, we still have the opportunity to meet again in two competitions and if that happens, it’s going to be really good news for SA football. So I am happy with the development of the team today for our young players … imagine what this type of game means to Mbokazi, Nkotha, Rele and Radiopane … it’s so good. There’s a lot of positive components in this game.”
Pirates beat Sundowns, thanks to 20-year-old Mofokeng’s lightning-fast brace inside the first five minutes, at FNB Stadium on Sunday. The result helped second-placed Pirates cut the gap between them and leaders Sundowns to 15 points while they still have four games in hand. Nkotha, 20, played the last 13 minutes.
Mbokazi, 19, who was starting his fourth game in the top flight, was voted man of the match after doing a stellar job in keeping the superb Sundowns attacker Lucas Ribeiro at bay.
Radiopane, 22, also played the last 13 minutes after replacing Evidence Makgopa in what was only his fifth league game of the season.
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