Riveiro: We will show what we can do

Riveiro: We will show what we can do

For a lot of the neutrals, Saturday™s MTN8 first leg semifinal between Orlando Pirates and title holders Mamelodi Sundowns is a test for the Buccaneers to gauge their progress under new coach Jose Riveiro.

And the Spaniard is up for it, although he says Pirates aren™t altering their game plan to necessarily counter the opponent they are facing.

What makes this cup tie so intriguing is the fact these two sides are also the frontrunners in the DStv Premiership log table at the moment.

"We expect and supposed that nothing will be decided on Saturday, I don't think so. If it is, hopefully, it is in our favour, but we have to play two games between two good teams [that are] well prepared and well structured with good players, so probably nothing will be decided on Saturday," said Riveiro.

"We have to understand that it's a 180-minute game minimum and it's the first round on Saturday so we're going to try to play our game, be ourselves and I promise you it's not going to be a difference because of the opponents.

"We try to do things the same way every time, every week and every process, and this is not going to be an exception. We have an opportunity on Saturday to show what we can do, and for sure we're going to take it."

Riveiro is also aware that Downs have almost completely overpowered Pirates in the past few years but he argues that the past has nothing to do with him.

"The past two seasons are not going to play on Saturday, you can be sure about it. The past is the past, it's gone so we try to look forward to the future with optimism and positivity, understanding that this is a different story from a different book this season," he added.

"We have a chance to write a new history and that's what we are trying to do in every single game and, again, this is not an exception, it doesn't matter whether we're talking about a semifinal or two legs, or Sundowns, or whoever is in front of us."

By Mazola Molefe