Jose Riveiro has set the tone for Orlando Pirates as they prepare for the much-anticipated Nedbank Cup final against Kaizer Chiefs. The clash, which is set to take place at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Saturday, 10 May, promises to be an exciting encounter, with both teams hungry for victory. This marks the first cup final between the Soweto giants since 2014.
A Historic Rivalry Reignites
The derby returns to the very same stadium where Chiefs triumphed 1-0 over Pirates in the 2014 MTN8 final under Stuart Baxter. However, Riveiro’s Pirates are heading into this match with confidence after completing a league double over Chiefs just last weekend, winning 1-0 in the Betway Premiership.
Riveiro’s Focus on Strategy, Not the Occasion
Despite the high stakes of the derby, Riveiro emphasized a calm and focused approach. The Spanish coach, who has guided Pirates to several finals since his arrival in 2022, is all about discipline and tactical execution, rather than getting caught up in the emotions of the match.
“It’s a pleasure and honor to be here, one more time, in the final representing Orlando Pirates,” Riveiro said at the club’s media day in Durban. “We’ve worked hard for this, and we’ve managed to find ourselves regularly in finals since day one.”
He explained that the team’s focus is on the game plan, not the occasion itself. “We don’t want to play the occasion; we want to focus on how we can beat Chiefs and also how they can beat us—so we avoid making mistakes.”
The Plan: Make Chiefs Struggle
Riveiro made it clear that his strategy is to disrupt Chiefs’ play. “We’re going to try to make Chiefs play badly. That’s the intention on the day,” he said confidently. “We’ve done it before, and we intend to do it again.”
With momentum, a sharp tactical approach, and the weight of history on their side, Pirates are ready to make a statement in this cup final. If Riveiro’s vision unfolds as planned, Kaizer Chiefs may not just lose—they could find themselves outclassed by a well-executed game plan on football’s biggest stage.
