It was a game that Orlando Pirates was expected to win down in Durban against Stellenbosch FC last night, and the Buccaneering football build-up to the game was triumphant, as they defended their MTN8 crown with an emphatic 3-1 win.
Riveiro, a Spanish national who came to South African shores with an infamous background and CV, is slowly but surely proving his doubters wrong as he is now part of history by becoming the first coach to guide a Premier Soccer League (PSL) team to a third consecutive MTN8 victory.
Having already lifted the MTN8 for a record three times, the Nedbank Cup twice and having already qualified for the Caf Champions League this season, all eyes will be on the Spaniard on how he will fare for the rest of the campaign, with the league title being the biggest missing piece of silverware at Orlando.
On the run of play, Stellies started the game like a house on fire, as they showed no respect whatsoever to the defending champions – taking the game to them and proving why they were in the final.
The team from the Winelands landed the first blow through the quick Lehlohonolo Mojela, who scored with an acrobatic goal inside the box, leaving Bucs goalkeeper Sipho Chaine with no chance but to look, stare and admire the sheer beauty from the teeny-weeny five-foot striker.
Returnee from injury Monnapule Saleng responded to the clamorous Mbobo Vuleka chants by Pirates supporters when he reacted the fastest and pounced on a rebound after shot-stopper Sage Stephens parried the ball into his path and levelled matters at the stroke of half-time.
Riveiro reacted and made substitutions that came on to change the entire complexion of the game, with Relebohile Mofokeng, Tshegofatso Mabasa and Kabelo Dlamini causing problems for the Stellenbosch defence.
Mofokeng and Mabasa broke Steve Barker and Stellies’ hearts when they smashed and grabbed the game – both scoring in stoppage time to steer the Sea Robbers ship into a safe harbour to defend their title successfully.
However, on the day, just like Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos said, the two best teams delivered a spectacle for staunch football supporters with a brand of good quality football all around and credit must be given to Stellies for putting up a good fight and being a worthy opponent.
“Pirates and Stellenbosch are two teams that are playing the best football so far, which means that all the players in those teams are good players,” Broos said.
Just last weekend, Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns delivered a spectacular show and a good quality brand of football at a fully packed FNB Stadium.
If Chiefs and Sundowns could do it, we can do it too, and that probably was the thinking and attitude of Pirates and Stellenbosch supporters, who also came out in their numbers to fill up the Moses Mabhida Stadium in what was a pulsating MTN8 final.
The PSL could not have asked for a better start to the season, with stadiums and tickets selling like hotcakes.
