Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro has offered insights into how the Soweto giants have managed to maintain their edge while juggling a punishing schedule of top-tier competitions.
With the Buccaneers set for another important clash in the Nedbank Cup semi-finals against Marumo Gallants this Sunday, the Spanish tactician and his technical team are working overtime to keep the players physically and mentally ready for battle.
Read: Emotional Riveiro Reflects On Life-Changing Journey
Pirates have had no breathing room in recent weeks. Just this past Wednesday, they faced off against Algeria’s MC Alger in a tough second-leg CAF Champions League quarter-final, a match that sealed their progression to the semi-finals.
That encounter followed a stretch of intense fixtures, including a league clash against Polokwane City last Saturday and the first leg against MC Alger the Tuesday before.
Despite the demanding calendar, Bucs continue to show remarkable resilience – a product not of luck, but of strategic planning, advanced sports science, and elite conditioning protocols led by Riveiro and his backroom staff.
Speaking during the Nedbank Cup semi-finals’ press conference held in Sandton on Thursday, Riveiro outlined how the team has coped with the relentless fixture list.
He dismissed the notion of a ‘secret formula,’ instead pointing to the sophisticated processes and scientific support systems that are now standard in professional football.
“There is no secret, there is science behind every process in professional football nowadays. People are a little bit curious you can have a look at what the top teams are doing around the world, and we try to do something similar like everybody else. All the resources are there for you, (and) like I said 2000 times this season, we’re going to a new space as football players, first of all, they are the ones who are running every two-three days, and it’s something that didn’t happen before,” said Riveiro, speaking to journalists.
Read: Khanye Still Not Convinced By Pirates' CAFCL Pedigree
“Our obligation as the coaching staff, and that’s why we are there behind them, is to make sure that they can be competitive now instead of being competitive every six-seven days, now it’s two-three days. We’re trying to explore a little better, but obviously regeneration sessions, nutrition (and) the work that we’re doing in our strength and conditioning department as well to become relevant for them to be ready to go again. So, there are a lot of things that are working very well so far, probably things that we don’t even know right now that are going to work maybe in two-three months and we try to be always with one eye in the new things and things that help the players the most,” concluded the coach.
