José Riveiro, the Orlando Pirates’ head coach, asserts that Kaizer Chiefs’ current league standing is deceptive, claiming they are a more formidable team than their ranking indicates.
The Pirates are gearing up to face the Chiefs in the 181st Soweto Derby at the fully booked FNB Stadium this Saturday (15:30).
Under Nasreddine Nabi’s leadership, the Chiefs have experienced a tumultuous season, contrasting sharply with the Pirates’ performance. Currently, Chiefs sit in fifth place in the league with 21 points from 14 matches, while the Pirates hold the second position with 27 points, having played three fewer games due to their CAF Champions League quarter-finals commitments.
This difference in the number of matches was also acknowledged by Chiefs coach Nabi during a press conference on Thursday.
“Our goal is to stay competitive against a top team right now,” Riveiro commented, referencing the league leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, who have collected 33 points from 15 matches.
“We cannot afford to lose points. Securing all three points is crucial as we aim to stay in the race for that position, and we need to concentrate on our goal of achieving three points.
“There will be events taking place around the stadium, but our main focus is to perform at our best and leverage our strengths instead of being sidetracked by the occasion, as is often advised.”
When asked about his expectations for Saturday’s game, Riveiro remarked, “It should be a thrilling match. I believe the Chiefs are executing their game strategy quite effectively this season. Honestly, their league standing does not reflect their performances thus far.
“They are generating many opportunities in each match and playing entertaining football, which is exactly what we aim to accomplish with the Pirates.
“If both teams adhere to the style of play we have shown in recent games, I am confident it will be an exciting encounter for the fans.”
Both teams approach the derby after successful performances in the Nedbank Cup round of 32. The Pirates triumphed over Richards Bay 3-1 in Durban last weekend, while the Chiefs clinched a dominant 4-0 victory against Free Agents, setting the stage for an eagerly anticipated clash.
