Under Jose Riveiro this season, Orlando Pirates seem to have improved greatly in their performances and results much to the delight of the supporters and those associated with the club.
The Buccaneers are finalising their preparations for the team's next match this coming weekend in the Nedbank Cup quarter-finals and a lot is expected from the side after doing so well in their most recent matches.
Bucs have won all of their last five matches in all competitions, and while some doubted Riveiro when he was unveiled as the team's head coach in June, the tune has started to change about the tactician for many in the fraternity who are seeing the Spanish mentor as the man to possibly succeed in guiding the side to give Mamelodi Sundowns a run for their money in the league in seasons to come.
For this season the league is gone after Downs won it again although there is an opportunity to finish in second place to qualify for the CAF Champions League for Bucs after their win last weekend against Chippa United saw them sit above both SuperSport United and Kaizer Chiefs respectively with five matches remaining.
Bucs' next opponents in the cup competition will be Dondol Stars who have done well so far to reach the Last eight stage.
Former Pirates striker Phumlani Mkhize believes that the Soweto giants are on the right track under Riveiro.
The Good
"In my opinion, there is notable progress at Pirates and the team is doing well under the current head coach. The coach was given time to implement his ideas and it is now paying off. When I am looking at the team and how it is playing, it reminds me of the days of Gordon Igesund as the coach of the side when we won the league in the 2000/01 season. I'm not saying this just because I was part of that squad, but there are similarities. If you remember, Pirates were flowing in those days. But you can see the differences here and there between this guy's team at that of Igesund because Gordon is a local coach while Riveiro is from overseas. I think he is doing very well at the moment," said Mkhize.
The Bad
Mkhize is disappointed though that Bucs has failed to win the league in a long time although he is happy for Sundowns that they have done so consecutively.
"It's good for them (Sundowns). If they can manage certain individual players in their team, then why not? You must remember that they can use any resources they have for their benefit. They are unstoppable and we just have to be honest about it. They just need competition and that's all, or what else can you do? Other teams just need to beef up to in order to challenge them," he added.
The Ugly
"I am one of the people who doubted the coach (Riveiro) when he arrived. Look at how Pirates is playing now and you can imagine how they would have done by now if he had been there for longer but I do understand that a coach does need to be given some time to implement his philosophy and he could not have done it in the short space of time," Mkhize said.
More Attacking Players Needed For Bucs?
"I think Pirates do need to beef up with a few players and they will be a well-oiled machine. Maybe if they can add three or four players at least, especially in attacking midfield and upfront. They need to get a traditional number nine striker in the mould of the likes of Jerry Sikhosana, Etienne Nsunda, Andries Sebola and so on," concluded Mkhize.
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