Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro is under tremendous pressure to defend the MTN8 trophy after the club was knocked out of the Caf Champions League by minnows Jwaneng Galaxy of Botswana on Friday night.
Pirates were eliminated via penalty kicks after a 1-1 aggregate score. Galaxy scored all their five penalties while Bucs’ Relebohile Mofokeng missed his kick.
The Buccaneers are going through a dry patch and have not won a single match in four outings. T
hey will face red-hot Mamelodi Sundowns in the final at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Saturday, and that game could decide the fate of the embattled coach.
Tickets for this most-anticipated cup final were sold out in a matter of hours, and so an electrifying atmosphere is expected from the always energetic Durban supporters.
The Brazilians are seeking revenge.
Pirates annihilated them 3-0 in the semifinals of the same competition last year when Monnapule Saleng announced his arrival with a mesmerising performance.
For the first time in a long time, Sundowns were outplayed, outclassed and outmanoeuvered, and that was embarrassing for the PSL defending champions and the wound still festers.
Sundowns were in a rather easy encounter against Bamumura from Rwanda, whom they clobbered 4-0 in the away first leg at the Azam Complex.
In the second leg played in Tshwane yesterday, the Brazilians were just sharpening their razor’s edge.
Players to watch from the swashbuckling Sundowns, who have won all their league matches this season, are Peter Shalulile, Lucas Ribeiro, Marcello Allende, Junior Mendietta, Themba Zwane and Aubrey Modiba.
Modiba scored one of the contenders for a goal of the season when he unleashed a delicious free-kick against Stellenbosch FC on Wednesday in their 3-1 victory.
Riveiro will have to find a winning combination from his star-studded team that includes the likes of Zakhele Lepasa, Saleng, Patrick Maswanganyi, Phillip Ndlondlo, Deon Hotto and Kermit Erasmus.
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