Jose Riveiro Vows Pirates Will Fight “Tooth and Nail” for Betway Premiership Title

Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro has reaffirmed his team’s determination to challenge for the Betway Premiership title, declaring that the Buccaneers will fight until the very last match of the season.

Pirates kept their title hopes alive with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over a resilient Polokwane City over the weekend, a crucial result that saw them close the gap on league leaders Mamelodi Sundowns to 12 points. With three games in hand over the Tshwane giants, the Soweto club still has a chance to mount a dramatic late-season charge for the championship.

Riveiro: “We Are Not Giving Up”

Speaking after the Polokwane victory, Riveiro emphasized his team’s unwavering commitment to the title race.

“Yeah, I think nobody can question that we’re not trying in each and every game. I mean, we are not giving up in any competition,” he told the media.

“We want to win no matter what happened, no matter what the opponents do. We’re going to try to be at the level that we must be in each and every game.”

Sundowns’ Schedule Opens a Window for Pirates

Pirates’ hopes were further boosted by Sundowns’ latest fixture against Stellenbosch being postponed due to their ongoing CAF Champions League commitments. With the Brazilians engaged in continental duties, Pirates have an opportunity to build momentum as they head into the critical phase of the season.

Despite being behind in the title race, Riveiro insists his side will not stop pushing until the final whistle of the campaign.

“We will try until the end, until the last day if it’s possible. So we knew that today we played already a final, and it’s the same for the remaining games,” he added.

“We know how difficult it is to be at the top in this league, and we’re going to try our best until the end.”

Riveiro’s Last Dance with Pirates

Riveiro, who has already confirmed that he will part ways with Pirates at the end of the season, is determined to leave on a high note. His final mission is clear—push his team to compete for every point and make sure Pirates remain in the hunt for the title until the very end.

With games in hand and a fighting spirit, the Buccaneers are still in the mix. Now, it’s a matter of whether they can sustain their momentum and put pressure on Sundowns in the closing stages of the season.