Orlando Pirates will face Botswana side Jwaneng Galaxy for a second successive year in the second round of the Caf Champions League preliminary stages — in what will be a revenge fixture for the Buccaneers who were denied a place in the group stages when they lost on penalties to Galaxy last year.
Jwaneng proceeded to the second round of the preliminaries after beating Namibian outfit African Stars 6-5 on penalties in Gaborone on Saturday following a 1-1 draw over two legs.
Pirates had confirmed their place in the second round on Friday by thrashing the fishermen of Madagascar, Disciples FC, 4-0 at Orlando Stadium. “Wishes are for birthdays,” said Bucs coach Jose Riveiro when asked which side he would prefer to face between Jwaneng and Stars in the round that will decide whether Bucs go through to the group stages for the first time in five years.
“We didn’t have a good time with them (Jwaneng) the last time. They’re really tough opponents but there’s a component of extra motivation for us.
“It’s not going to be a piece of cake because they’re going to be a tough, competitive team. I think this competition is really attractive and whoever is coming for us it is our responsibility to try everything in order to find ourselves in the group stages.”
The boys are doing a good job. They’ve managed to get the results
— Bucs coach Jose Riveiro
Riveiro should face Jwaneng better prepared this time with his side having already played a couple of vital matches this season.
There’s no coach in the PSL who is happier than Riveiro about the amount of competitive matches his side have played ahead of the start of the Betway Premiership in the middle of next month.
By the time Pirates open their league campaign against Chippa United at Orlando Stadium on September 14 they would have played three MTN8 and two Caf Champions League matches, while eight of the 16 PSL outfits, including their Soweto nemesis Kaizer Chiefs, will be playing their first.
“It’s a strange season right now but we’ve played three finals already and the league has not even started,” said Riveiro of his team’s competitive advantage.
“The boys are doing a good job. They’ve managed to get the results, managed to put us again in the semifinal [of MTN8] and we have an opportunity again to play another final,” added Riveiro ahead of their clash against Cape Town City on Tuesday in the first leg of the MTN8 semifinal.
The only other coach who’ll be as happy as Riveiro about his squad preparation for the Premiership would be Steve Barker of Stellenbosch FC. Barker’s side would have equally played five competitive matches when they host Lamontville Golden Arrows on September 15 — with three MTN8 ties and two Caf Confederation Cup preliminary round matches against Nsingizini Hotspurs of eSwatini who the Stellies beat 8-0 on aggregate to progress to the next round.
Riveiro was delighted to see many of his charges grabbing their opportunities to play by rewarding him with an emphatic 4-0 victory. He was pleased that attacking midfielders Patrick Maswanganyi, Relebohile Mofokeng and Karim Kimvuidi were goalscorers.
Pirates’ first strike on Friday was an own goal by Disciples defender Andoniaina Andrianavalona.
Kimvuidi is one Pirates player who has taken his rare playing time in the Bucs line-up with aplomb, capping it with a wonder goal on Friday. Riveiro said the goal will give the DR Congo midfielder a huge boost in confidence going to the start of the Premiership.
“It’s difficult to get playing time in this group, especially in the position Karim is playing. That’s what the players need to do whenever they are coming into the field, show who they are as football players. Today Karim scored, and the goal is going to help him be more confident. For the fans to see Karim scoring is good,” he said.
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