“We faced Stellies 4 times, beat them once.”
Coach Jose Riveiro says they faced Stellenbosch four times and only beat them once. So he has a lot of respect for them.
Pirates head coach emphasises the importance of acknowledging Stellenbosch’s strengths while staying true to their own game plan as they gear up for the MTN8 final at Moses Mabhida Stadium this Saturday. The Bucs aim for their third consecutive title, but Stellenbosch poses a significant threat after defeating Mamelodi Sundowns in the semi-finals.
Understanding the challenge ahead
Riveiro recognizes that understanding Stellenbosch is crucial, he stated. “We have to accept Stellenbosch the way they are. We respect them big time. We faced Stellenbosch four times last season – in the MTN8 semi-finals and our two league games. We beat them once. It takes 94 minutes in Athlone [Stadium] to beat them against the same players,” as quoted by iDiski Times.
His experience against Stellenbosch highlights their ability to capitalise on opponents’ weaknesses, making them a formidable contender.
Importance of Pirates transition defence
Riveiro warns that the match will involve continuous threats from Stellenbosch, he explained. “It’s gonna be a game where we are going to be permanently under threat because there’s gonna be transitions.”
This constant pressure requires Pirates to limit goal-scoring opportunities while maintaining their attacking style.
The coach is aware of key players like Sanele Barns, Devin Titus, and Bradley Mojela, noting. “We know the capacity they have to play quick forward. We know how aggressive they are.”
He stressed the significance of controlling these transitions to secure a victory.
Balancing aggression with strategy
Stellenbosch excels in counter-pressing, and Riveiro highlighted their aggressive approach. “Mojela is the striker. He’s the top in the lack of fouls committed with [Ismail] Toure.”
This statistic reflects the team’s high level of aggression when they lose possession and their effectiveness when attacking.
Riveiro acknowledged that the Pirates need to manage these aggressive moments with precision. “If we do it, we will be close to winning the match. If we don’t do it, then the result will be compromised.”
Staying true to Pirates’ identity
Despite the challenges, Riveiro insists that Pirates will not shy away from their style of play. “It doesn’t mean that we are going to deny ourselves also the possibility to play football,” he asserted.
“We are the team that we are. We play the brand of football that we play, and we are going to try and do it even in the final.”
Stay tuned with The South African as Coach Jose Riveiro gives us an insight into what we can expect in the MTN 8 final.
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