Jose Riveiro says Orlando Pirates is now close to its full potential

Speaking to the media at the Cape Town Stadium just after the 2-0 win over Cape Town City in a DStv Premiership game, Riveiro says the results of the team in the second round of the season prove that confidence is high in the team.

Bucs have now scored 36 goals in 13 matches in 2024 and this is the return that’s convincing the Spanish-born coach that they are on the right path.

"Well, the results are telling that we are close, obviously we are winning games. We are scoring goals. We are dominating the games and we are producing good performances. We are in a good space I think we are in the best moments of the season in terms of confidence which is key in the end to win games,” Riveiro said.

“I think we had moments in the season where we couldn't get results but we played better football than right now but now the ball is going to the net more frequently. It's clear that the team is permanently progressing, we are already in the last stage of the season in a very good form and let's not stop right now, and continue until the end with this level of confidence and the talent that we have in the team. The results are going to be more close for us than far from us."

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With four games to go in this campaign, Bucs remain third on the log with 46 points, just three points behind Stellenbosch FC as the fight for the remaining CAF Champions League spot continues---it’s going down to the wire.

Riveiro has also praised the impact of teenage sensation Relebohile Mofokeng in their team, after providing two assists in yesterday’s game and helping Tshegofatso Mabasa to score a brace.

Mofokeng has now scored five goals and provided six assists in all competitions this season, a direction contribution to 11 goals in the team.

Riveiro is also happy because the School of Excellence product is improving in other aspects of his game.

"He's performing in a way that he's getting all of our confidence to continue playing him. He's just improving he's still very young he needs to improve a lot of things and he's doing great.

“The work that he's doing in the defensive phase because we used to see only what he does with the ball but even when he's not on the ball. Little by little he's becoming a better football player, more complete, more solid, and more reliable and the talent was always there. That's something that we cannot teach, these are talented players."