Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro has embraced what he describes as a ‘luxury period’ as his side prepare for a huge CAF Champions League clash against Al Ahly.
The Buccaneers will welcome the Red Devils to the Orlando Stadium on Saturday at 3pm in their second group stage match of the competition. The Sea Robbers got off to their champions league campaign with a flyer, as they put away Algerian kingpins CR Beluizdad in the first game.
However, a setback over the weekend in the Betway Premiership against Stellenbosch has shot them back down to earth with a thump.
Great Goal from Nkota👌 I did mention yesterday that we need to play our normal game. I also said Rele must start👍 pic.twitter.com/vMWQXAMudN
The two teams are level on three points in Group C with Al Ahly also winning their opener in convincing fashion against Ivory Coast based Stade Abidjan. Riveiro and his group of players, however, will have nearly a week to work out their shortfalls and re-energise themselves for what is to be expected to be a titanic battle in Soweto against the defending champions.
Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns (champions league) and Stellies, who compete in the CAF Confederation Cup, had their midweek fixtures postponed to allow them time to rest and prepare for their continental commitments. Sundowns will play Morocco’s Far Rabat in North Africa, also on Saturday, while Stellies host another Morocco giant in RS Berkane at the Moses Mabhida Stadium a day later.
Speaking ahead of his first encounter with Al Ahly, Riveiro welcomed the ‘extra time’ he has to sharpen his troops.
“This period is a luxury to have four days plus a day of recovery, which gives us five days to prepare for the game as well as possible,” Riveiro said. “Obviously, now we are looking to the future and the next game is going to be something else.
He further added: “We are going to be tested at a very high level, and we will face the week with a good attitude and motivation under no illusion in an effort to offer a good performance on against Al Ahly.
“Having those days and the possibility to rest, is giving us an extra to make sure there are no excuses that on Saturday we can be on a level that the competition requires, and opposition will ask,” he said.
Pirates have a huge record to protect in this fixture with Al Ahly, who have never won a game in 15 attempts on South African soil. The likes of Sundowns, Ajax Cape Town (now Cape Town Spurs), SuperSport United, Platinum Stars and Bidvest Wits have all kept that record intact over the years.
Pirates have hosted the Egyptian giants three times, winning once and drawing the other two. The win came in their most recent meeting in 2015 when Thamsanqa Gabuza decided the match with a wonder strike.
As Saturday’s match draws near, the Buccaneers and their loyal supporters will undoubtedly gather a renewed sense of hope and determination, ready to protect the proud legacy of Pirates football against their storied rivals.