Riveiro credits backroom staff for MTN8 triumph

Jose Riveiro, coach of Orlando Pirates during 2023 MTN8 final match between Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on 07 September 2023 ©Gerhard Duraan/BackpagePix

by Staff Reporter

Monday Oct 09, 2023. 13:05

Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro believes that penalties are no longer the lottery they once were and hailed the work done behind the scenes to aid their victory over Mamelodi Sundowns in the MTN8 final.

The Buccaneers successfully defended their title after they beat the Brazilians 3-1 in the shootout following a 0-0 draw at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday.

Pirates goalkeeper Sipho Chaine produced heroics as he saved spot-kicks from Bongani Zungu, Junior Mendieta and Teboho Mokoena before Karim Kimvuidi sealed the win from 12 yards out.

Riveiro lifted his third trophy at the club in just over a year since taking over the reins from Mandla Ncikazi and Fadlu Davids as the Soweto giants claimed their sixth Wafa Wafa title in the PSL era – more than any other team.

“We used to say back in the years that penalties are a lottery, right? Or at least in my country we used to say that they are a lottery, anything can happen. Nowadays not any more,” the Spaniard said.

“Same for both teams, we know their goalkeepers, we know the takers, the same way that they do. So, we have more influence on what’s happening there.

“Our goalkeeper coach, our analysis department, that’s what they do. So, you go there with more information and with more probabilities to succeed.”

Riveiro revealed why he stuck with Chaine on this occasion, having substituted him for Richard Ofori in the CAF Champions League second round, second leg defeat to Jwaneng Galaxy, who converted all their penalties in a 5-4 win.

“In the Champions League game, it was a lottery for us because we knew nothing about their takers. So, we tried with a different strategy, it didn’t work unfortunately but we moved on,” he added.

“It’s a different approach. Against Jwaneng we had to play for the qualification against a team that we know nothing about in the penalties. There’s no material, there’s nothing to analyse and you go blind. So, well we tried something different.”