Time off will help us prepare for upcoming games - Riveiro
Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro is happy for the time off over the next week, with players on international duty and the other members of the squad given off, saying the rest is welcome.
“We had a long journey in August, there was a period of many days in a row without stopping,” said Riveiro, who side played eight matches over a four-week period and travelled to the Comoros Islands in the African Champions League, as well as playing matches in the DStv Premiership and MTN8.
They have seen five players go off to the South Africa squad this week plus other players report for duty with Ghana and Namibia. The rest of the squad have been given a few days off after 2-1 away win in Cape Town over Stellenbosch in the MTN8 semifinal first leg.
“So, it's a well-deserved pause, let's say that. It's not even a break because it’s not going to be long unfortunately, so we’ll use the time to prepare the upcoming games.
“It’s a time that we can use to work more on small things as individuals, that we can help them to polish certain things because we don't have the rush of the competition and the pressure of the games coming,” the Bucs boss added.
“As coaches we really like these chances because we can affect a bit more what's happening in the team during the week without that pressure of a game every three days.
“It seems like a secondary period in the planning but it's a very important moment of the season. So we have to use it and we have to use it well.”
Pirates will return from the international break to take on Botswana’s Jwaneng Galaxy in the second round of the Champions League before meeting Stellenbosch in the second leg of their MTN9 semi.
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