Orlando Pirates head coach, Jose Riveiro, has stressed the importance of the Soweto giants focusing on their own journey in the race for Betway Premiership glory this season.
The Sea Robbers have finished as runners-up to defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns for the past two seasons and are hoping to finally break the dominance of the Brazilians' who have won the league for seven successive seasons.
After a flawless start to the season with seven straight victories, earning them 21 points and the top spot in the Premiership table the Buccaneers. slipped to second place behind Sundowns on goal difference following their first defeat of the campaign against Stellenbosch at Orlando Stadium on Sunday.
However, Riveiro who has thrived in domestic cup competitions, since his arrival at the Soweto giants in 2022 has not pressed any panic buttons, but has emphasized the importance of his team staying fully focused on their own journey.
"We have the same amount of points we lost today (against Stellenbosch), they lost against Polokwane City a few weeks ago. We have to run our race and that's it.
"We played against Stellenbosch, we did not play against Mamelodi Sundowns, we are competing against Sundowns, against Stellenbosch, against Kaizer Chiefs, against Arrows, against everyone," Riveiro said.
The Spanish also emphasized that it was still early in the season, noting that unexpected teams could surprise many people this season.
"It's three points every game and it's only eight games, I know that we are in December we should have maybe fifteen or twenty games already played in the league.
"Some other teams not even eight, so it's still early, there's still going to be teams you're not looking at right now but will finish in the top three," Riveiro said.
IOL Sport