Orlando Pirates will come close to matching what champions Mamelodi Sundowns will earn in prize money this season if they maintain their recent form in the few matches and weeks that remain of the 2022-2023 season.
The money will come as consolation for a lukewarm campaign for Pirates, who along with other clubs have fallen way too short of matching Sundowns in the DStv Premiership this season.
Pirates pocketed R8m after winning the MTN8 early in the season, but they stand to add R7m if they can bag the Nedbank Cup and R7.5m if they clinch the second spot in the Premiership. If they succeed, the Buccaneers will have R22.5m in the bank for their efforts.
Their coach Jose Riveiro has produced some good results in his debut season in South Africa. But the Spanish-born mentor knows there’s still a lot more work to do for Pirates to come close to the purse that Sundowns will get for winning the league and the Brazilians’ run in the Caf Champions League.
Sundowns sealed a sixth successive league title with seven matches to spare and will bank a R15m cheque after their last league match against Maritzburg United before the end of May.
Overall, Sundowns are in the semifinals of the Champions League, where they’re guaranteed R7.5m if they lose to defending champions Wydad Athletic, the Morocco club they will meet in the last-four.
Sundowns also pocketed R3m for their consistency in the first two quarters of the Premiership. All that will take their tally to R25.5m.
We’re going to fight until the end to get what we want
— Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro
But to get to R22.5m, Pirates not only have Kaizer Chiefs as one their two opponents in the battle to finish second, they’ll also have to go past their Soweto rivals in the mouthwatering semifinal of the Nedbank Cup on Saturday.
Chiefs and SuperSport United are still in the race to finish second but it may only take two victories for Pirates, the most consistent contender, to end the duo’s hopes of competing in the Champions League next season.
Of the three clubs, Pirates have been on the roll, having won their last five league outings ahead of their trip to TS Galaxy today, where another victory will move them back to second spot, currently occupied by SuperSport.
While it’s been stop and start for Chiefs, who have won three, drawn one and lost one in their last five games, it’s been worse for SuperSport, the team that initially had the best chance. Gavin Hunt’s side have managed two victories, two draws and a defeat in their last five.
But what could help Pirates is that Chiefs and SuperSport will face each other in one of their three remaining ties. A draw in that match won’t help either of the clubs.
Pirates’ run-in, which includes the last three matches against Royal AM (home), Sekhukhune United (home) and AmaZulu FC (away), looks much better for a team that’s been able to win matches with ease in the second half of the season.
Riveiro has consistently told his players that form doesn’t win any matches, it’s what you actually do in the match that matters most. The message seems to have been well received judging by their recent form. “We’re going to the last part of the season with confidence and we don’t want to stop,” Riveiro says.
"The challenge is nice. I want to find myself at this point of the season fighting for important things, with the possibility to get more titles for this club. We’re going to fight until the end to get what we want.”
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