Riveiro takes aim at retaining Nedbank Cup title

Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro has promised to give a stout defence of their Nedbank Cup title ahead of a Last 32 clash against fourth-tier Crystal Lake at the Mbombela stadium on Saturday.

Pirates defeated Sekhukhune United 2-1 in the 2023 decider at Loftus stadium and having earlier this season retained their MTN8 title, Spanish coach Riveiro is hoping to do the same in the Nedbank Cup.

“We are defending the title,” he said. “It is a competition that I really like. We will prepare ourselves as usual and we are going to take the game very seriously because we had an experience last season playing against (lower league) opponents like Dondol Stars, All Stars and Venda Football Club. It was not an easy part for us.

“We know clearly what is the objective for us and we are going to fight the same way we did against Sundowns (in a 1-1 league draw on Saturday).”

Only once before has a fourth-tier side defeated topflight opposition in the Nedbank Cup – when Vaal University of Technology edged Lamontville Golden Arrows on penalties following a 2-2 Last 32 draw in 2020.

Pirates have lost to an amateur side before, they were famously beaten 4-1 by Maluti FET College in the opening round in 2013, still one of the great shocks in South African football history.

Sundowns, meanwhile, are preparing for a Last 32 clash at second-tier La Masia on Tuesday night and coach Rulani Mokwena admits he can take nothing for granted.

“We are looking forward to it. It’s an interesting team that we will be playing against and well-coached,” he said. “Dane Klate and his technical team have done a good job to put the team together. To reach this stage of the competition means they have something. So, we know how difficult playing NFD teams can be.