Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro in awe of his 'animals' after Soweto Derby spectacular

Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro lauded his team’s valiant performance in Saturday's Soweto Derby, likening his players to a pack of animals known for their unwavering reliability and teamwork.

The powerful metaphor resonated deeply in the context of the work ethic that Pirates have developed under his guidance, and is one of the takeaways from Mzansi's football weekend.

1 Pirates’ pack of animals tipped the scales of victory

Riveiro’s words served not just as praise, but also as a testament to the impressive discipline and instinctive teamwork his players have displayed. He made these comments at the post-match press conference, where his face was aglow with the thrill of victory.

He thought they were performing like superhumans when he said: "They are playing every three days and performing like animals.

"They're running, trying, and playing, and they do so with no complaints."

Pirates emerged victorious from a challenging contest, showing not just skill but also tenacity and a deep-seated bond to secure their triumph. This prompted Riveiro to say: "What I saw out there was nothing short of incredible."

2 Richards Bay take no prisoners

Richards Bay took a massive step in their survival campaign after moving up to 11th on the log, six points clear of the relegation zone. They bagged three points from a hard-fought 1–0 win over the more fancied TS Galaxy on Sunday.

Apart from pulling away from danger, the win also dealt a blow to Galaxy’s hopes of finishing in the top four. At the same time, Richards Bay added to the woes of the clubs marooned at the bottom of the log, where the prospect of playing in the dreaded PSL promotion-relegation play-offs looms large.

3 Cape Town City are weighed down heavily by bad fortune

Bad luck continues to follow relegation-threatened Cape Town City, who ironically produced one of their better performances against the star-studded Mamelodi Sundowns, who ran out 2–0 winners on Saturday night.

As the match unfolded, City exhibited moments of promise and creativity that hinted at their potential to secure a positive outcome. No wonder Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso said afterwards: "It wasn't an easy game."

Thank heavens, City’s caretaker coach Diogo Peral has come to terms with a stark reality — the club may well be facing the prospect of the end-of-season promotion-relegation play-offs, with a 15th-place finish in the Premiership looking increasingly likely.

4 SuperSport United in seventh heaven after a few delightful firsts

SuperSport United clinched a crucial 2–0 victory over Chippa United, marking their first win in their last seven Premiership games. It was also the first win under interim head coach Andre Arendse, as well as their first home win of 2025.

In another milestone, SuperSport defeated Chippa United for the first time in over five years, finally ending a long-standing hoodoo. It was a much-needed boost in their effort to escape the relegation scrap.

The home crowd erupted into a euphoric frenzy when SuperSport scored their first goal — a rare sight this season. It was one of the few occasions they scored first in a match.

The result was a well-deserved and long-overdue victory for a side that has faced numerous challenges in the first half of the campaign.

5 Top 8 ambitions poised on a knife-edge after King Zwelithini stalemate

With both teams fighting for stronger league positions, hosts AmaZulu and Polokwane City had to settle for a stalemate at the King Zwelithini Stadium.

The outcome denied either side the chance to solidify their Top 8 ambitions, leaving them to reflect on missed opportunities as momentum tightens with the season's end in sight.

AmaZulu remained sixth on the log after registering their fourth draw of the season. They wrap up their campaign against Orlando Pirates on 24 May in Durban. Polokwane, meanwhile, sit seventh after fighting back to deny AmaZulu the win. They will be determined to return to winning ways against Cape Town City at home on 17 May.