Jose Riveiro avoids the favourites tag, as Orlando Pirates reach CAFCL quarterfinals

Pirates reached the last eight with a game to spare, as they beat Algerian giants CR Belouizdad 2-1 in their penultimate group stages game at Orlando Stadium on Sunday evening.

Bucs now lead Group C with 11 points from four matches and are one of only two teams unbeaten in this stage of the competition. But that’s still not enough for Riveiro to be declared favourites.

"It's a day to feel happy for what is done which is unbelievable to be [qualified] already with one game in hand in the quarterfinals, in the group with Stade [d’Abijan], with Al Ahly and with CRB. Three fantastic teams and the way that we did it is something to feel proud of," Riveiro said.

"Now still we have to play in Cairo one more game, we want to show a good picture of ourselves in that game. Even though we are in the quarterfinals it's an opportunity to be top of the table at the end of the group stages and that's the only thing in our mind in the next game is to go to Cairo, perform, still play our football.

“It's to improve because having the opportunity to play against these teams is a luxury for us as a group because it's pushing you to the limit when you have an opportunity to play continental football.

“The background that these games are going to leave in our players, in our group is something that you cannot pay, you cannot quantify. So, we want to enjoy until the last minute of the competition once we go into the quarterfinals we will try and prepare ourselves as well as possible as we used to do."

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Bucs goals came from Bafana Bafana players Relebohile Mofokeng in the first half and a trademark thunderbolt from the talented Thalente Mbatha midway through the second half.

Riveiro was slightly emotional during Mbatha’s goal celebrations, with the crowd having given the KwaMashu player some tough time before scoring that winning goal.

The Spanish-born coach explains the reasons behind that reaction.

"No, it's a normal reaction during the game, I think there was a moment where Thalente lost a couple of balls and the atmosphere changed a little bit and we cannot afford to do that,” the coach added.

“It's an emotional reaction because the players are human, they have feelings, it's important that they feel that they are playing home every single minute, not only when they are scoring or when we are playing nice.

“Sometimes, we have to understand that it's not that easy, we have an opponent and they also want to win and this is a tough competition so we need to capitalise something that not every club has which is our fanbase again, it's an emotional moment. I think the fans today played a big role again, coming in numbers and we are trying to play for them again all the time."