The PSL has just announced the dates and venues of the Nedbank Cup Last Eight fixtures and Orlando Pirates legend shared his views on unfair criticism of coach Jose Riveiro. Teko Modise says the Spaniard, Riveiro is doing well at Pirates as he has won the Nedbank Cup and is in the quarter-finals.
Riveiro has been in South Africa for less than two years, and Modise feels the coach has done well at Pirates, but his failure to win the league title has put the Spanish mentor under pressure. The ex-Mamelodi Sundowns and Pirates star, Modise, however, says the criticism levelled against Riveiro is unfair considering what he has achieved since joining the side in July 2022.
Nedbank Cup Venues and Dates: Will Pirates Defend it?
The Spaniard guided Pirates to MTN8 and the Nedbank Cup glory as he also finished second in the DStv Premiership standings. Judging this term, Riveiro has also clinched the MTN8 trophy and Pirates are in the quarterfinals of the Nedbank Cup where they will meet AmaZulu away in Durban.
“It’s unfair to say that coach Jose is only a cup-winning coach and not a league winning coach. I mean which other coach has been winning the league except the Sundowns coaches?” said Modise to Phakaaathi.
“Look at him coming to join Pirates almost two years ago, what has he achieved? So we can’t overlook the things he has done because he has not won the league title. We saw how Pirates did in the second half of the season last season. We want to see that again this season. We want to see Pirates competing with Sundowns because when Pirates and Chiefs compete with Sundowns, then our league becomes exciting.”
“But I can’t sit here and say that coach Riveiro has not done well because he has not won the league, that’s an understatement.”
Furthermore, the legend nicknamed The General added that the Sea Robbers are the only team to compete with Sundowns. This comes as Rulani Mokwena’s Sundowns are unbeaten in the DStv Premiership out of 18 matches but there’s still a chance to catch Masandawana as Modise says.
Nedbank Cup: Pirates Can Win the League and Catch Sundowns
The retired Bafana midfielder and television pundit, Modise argues that the 1995 African champions are a growing team under Riveiro and that they may give Sundowns a run for their money soon.
“Orlando Pirates are a team that is slowly growing. They’re an exciting team (to watch) and of course they’re winning trophies. But when it comes to the league, it’s very difficult (to win it),” he added.
“And those who have never won the league will never understand how difficult it is to win it. Mamelodi Sundowns have a way (of winning the league), they have a formula. So we can’t look it in way and say Pirates have a problem because they are not winning the league. Who has been winning the league in the past 10 seasons? It’s been Mamelodi Sundowns! If you then say Pirates have a problem then the other 14 teams in the league also have a problem. So we can’t just look at one team and say ‘Pirates have a problem because they’re not winning the league’, no, were have to look at it holistically.”
The Full Nedbank Cup Draw:
- AmaTuks vs Mamelodi Sundowns
- AmaZulu vs Orlando Pirates
- SuperSport United vs Stellenbosch
- TS Galaxy vs Chippa United
Related: Kaizer Chiefs legend speaks on comfort zone at Naturena
