Pirates: Coach Riveiro rues stadium lights

He’s not totally blaming the stadium lights, but the Orlando Pirates coach suggests the power failure changed the game.

Sep 5, 2022 - 21:24
1143
Pirates: Coach Riveiro rues stadium lights

Jose Riveiro’s Orlando Pirates suffered a second defeat of the season against Maritzburg United, and the Spaniard feels the result could have been different if the lights did not momentarily die out at Harry Gwala.

ALSO READ: Kaizer Chiefs’ recent target signs free deal

ALSO READ: Chiefs – Kitenge sends plea to fans on new signing

ALSO READ: Sundowns – Mngqithi names five clubs to watch out for

DSTV PREMIERSHIP: ORLANDO PIRATES LOSE TO MARITZBURG UNITED

Long after the Sea Robbers conceded the late penalty that gave Maritzburg the winning goal, the Soweto giants dominated the early phase of the game before the stadium lights failed for 10 minutes.

According to Riveiro, his team were never quite the same after that moment.

“At this moment the summary I think quite good at the beginning of the game until the load-shedding,” Riveiro said KickOff.

“After that we were not in our best not solving well the pressure from Maritzburg in the first half, without so much depth in our attacks.

ALSO READ: Pirates coach Riveiro on league title race

ALSO READ: Chiefs for more signings? Zwane answers

ALSO READ: Zwane’s Chiefs – 5 big things we’ve learned so far

“So we didn’t play so much time in that half. The second-half was totally different, only one team on the field looking for the result,” he added.

“So in the end one detail changed the game, it looked like it was going to end nil-nil because one more time we didn’t have our day in the last minutes. 

“And like I said one detail changed the result for the opponent,” he concluded.

ALSO READ: Chiefs and Blom struggle to agree on deal

ALSO READ: Pirates under Jose – 5 things we’ve learned so far

Riveiro’s almost serene calm has stood out. Time will tell if it will work with his players. Image: @iDiskiTimes / Twitter

RIVEIRO ON THE TITLE RACE

With the Maritzburg result causing Bucs to slide down from the first position to third place, Riveiro has said he is not losing sleep over top spot right now.

“I think the league so far is very equal, every game is very difficult for everyone and not only for Pirates,” Riveiro said as quoted by iDiskiTimes.

“I think we are going to arrive at the break with not so much advantage between the teams at the top.” Read the full story here.