Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro is confident the players at his disposal will deliver as expected.
The Buccaneers are in the critical stage of the season where they are fighting for the Premier Soccer League crown, the Nedbank Cup, and the Caf Champions League. Despite all those responsibilities, Bucs did not add any player in the January transfer window. As a matter of fact, they sent Gilberto on loan to Petro de Luanda.
Sandile Mthethwa and Katlego Otladisa are the other players released by Bucs on loan terms until the end of the season. Coach Riveiro has since explained why the Soweto giants did not add more players.
‘This time it didn't happen' – Riveiro
The Spaniard insists they usually take a keen look at available players to bolster the squad, but they failed to get what they wanted.
“From my perspective, what I can tell you is, we have 37 players in the squad right now – quality and experienced, and good conditions in every position,” he stated.
“As usual, our obligation as a club is to keep one eye on the market in each and every transfer window, but the fact that this time it didn't happen, it doesn't mean that it won't happen in the future, or course, or that we are not doing our job.
“So far the 37 players we have are the ones that must take us to the place where we want to be at the end of the season, and that's it.”
‘We keep players from the noise'
“We know it's very special for the supporters on both sides, and especially for you [media] the way you follow this game is not the same as the way you followed the last game against Richards Bay, for example,” Riveiro continued regarding the Saturday's Soweto Derby against Kaizer Chiefs.
“So it's difficult not to get affected by [the hype], in terms of not having a normal week, there are a lot of interviews, interruptions and disruptions as well. So we try to keep the players far from the noise, far from feeling that we're going to play for something other than three points.
“It doesn't mean we don't understand our responsibility with our supporters, and how important this game is for them, but, like I said, there's normal preparation and we're trying to find a way to keep our confidence and facing the week with a good mindset,” he concluded.
