Orlando Pirates may have done well to reach three knockout competition finals under Jose Riveiro, but their CAF Champions League exit is an indication that they still have a lot to do before they can be amongst the top dogs of African football.
Pirates have invested heavily in the market to bring in players to compete with Mamelodi Sundowns and a lot of people, including myself, expected them to progress. It was Riveiro's first time in the Champions League and he may be excused for that, but a club like Pirates should be making it to the group stages.
Take nothing away from the club which knocked Pirates out, Jwaneng Galaxy from Botswana. They are a good side with an equally good coach in Morena Ramoreboli, the South African born mentor. But with a lot more quality and preparation, such as going to Spain for their pre-season camp, Pirates should not have been knocked out of the competition so early.
Sundowns will once again be the only club representing South Africa in the group stages of the Champions League and this is not how it should be. In a league that is well financed, the PSL should have more than just one club almost every season competing in the group stages.
If he is still the coach of Pirates next season and they finish in one of the top two positions to qualify for the Champions League again, Riveiro will know that it's not a competition that can be taken for granted. There are a number of clubs on the continent that are constantly improving and want to see themselves playing in the group stages every season. That means that any South African club going into the continental club competitions should always be prepared to face strong opposition.
Having more teams qualifying for the group stages will also play a key role in helping Bafana Bafana progress, because it means that more players are getting exposed to continental football on a regular basis.
The Champions League exit, meanwhile, puts Riveiro under some pressure going into the MTN8 final against Sundowns this weekend. He will be well aware of the fact that he has to win the competition to ease the pressure because last season's successes will not necessarily guarantee him a job for the whole of this season.
Pirates have shown in the past that the MTN8 is a title they have a love affair with. It's also the perfect opportunity to bounce back from their recent slump and to forget about being knocked out of the Champions League so early.
