Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro says Mamelodi Sundowns’ 12-point lead at the top of the table is not real as his side still has some games in hand.
The Buccaneers' hard-fought 2-1 win over Cape Town City at Orlando Stadium on Saturday provided the backdrop for Riveiro's post-match remarks.
The Buccaneers and Masandawana have been engaged in a fierce tussle for league supremacy throughout the season, with Sundowns often holding the upper hand.
However, despite a 12-point deficit, Pirates' three games in hand represent a significant opportunity to claw back ground and potentially narrow the gap to just nine points.
PIRATES CAN REDUCE GAP BETWEEN THEM AND SUNDOWNS WITH NINE POINTS
“We have three games [in hand] and have to capitalise on them, otherwise they mean nothing,” said Riveiro.
“This is a personal answer, the situation this season has been a little bit unique. The way we started in the league [delay due to sponsorship issues] and all the problems we went through in the beginning.
“So, the schedule has been…I think today is the game 33 for us in all competitions if I’m not wrong…32 or 33 but we’re in still in February. And this is our game 15th in the league which is something that is usually not like that.
“So, I would have liked all of us to be in the same number of [league] games [with Sundowns] so we really know where we are because it’s a dangerous picture for all of us [Pirates] to see that the top [Mamelodi Sundowns] of the table is 9 or 10 or 12 points far from us when it’s not totally real.
“There’s still a possibility to close [the gap], we have to work hard to make it possible but it’s still possible.
“I don’t look at the table, I’m not the person who’s always doing the Maths. There’s nothing for me to gain with that.
“There’s nothing we can do, that’s the way the league and the competitions are right now and we’re just trying to do our best in whichever game coming.”
