Hunt vs Riveiro: What happened? SuperSport United coach opens up on altercation with Orlando Pirates coach - 'It is crazy'

Orlando Pirates went top of the Premier Soccer League table after a hard-fought 2-0 win over SuperSport United at the Orlando Stadium on Tuesday night. 

Evidence Makgopa and Deon Hotto were on target for the Buccaneers, handing them their fourth straight win in South African top-flight football.

Deano Van Rooyen was presented with the Man of the Match Award owing to his solid display against the Swanky Boys. Coach Jose Riveiro had nothing but praise for the former Stellenbosch captain.

"The physicality in these types of games with SuperSport is very important and he [Van Rooyen] managed to control it very well in the defensive phase to not allow their players to look for crosses, [Vincent] Pule, [Lyle] Lakay, [Neo] Rapoo," the Spaniard stated.

"He did a fantastic job with the cooperation of everybody around of course. There are probably six or seven candidates in our squad to be man of the match today but happy for Deano."

Mohau Nkota was given his first start on the team as a reward for his hard work in training, and despite showing glimpses of brilliance, Riveiro had his reservations.

"It’s just the beginning for him. He needs to understand that this is just one game. He still needs to improve a lot of things.

"I think he played 65 minutes with his own personality. What matters for me, with some accuracy and some mistakes. But it’s just the beginning for him because in professional nothing comes for free."

The Swanky Boys have not had an easy start to the 2024-25 season. They fell in the first hurdle in both the MTN8 and recently Carling Knockout. In the PSL, they have suffered three losses, a draw and one win.

"You know where the team was, what it’s about, this team has the most trophies behind the big three, it’s no mean feat in 25 years," coach Gavin Hunt responded when asked about the team's struggles.

"Look around all the teams, look at Orlando Pirates, where does four or five or those players come from, go across the road [Sundowns], look at those players, you know what I’m saying.

"Youth development is not always about going up, sometimes it’s about going down, but obviously they come up a lot with us. Last year we used 13 players from the Diski team, trying to play CAF too.

"So this catches up with you. This year we played Sundowns away, Cape Town City away, Pirates away twice, Chiefs away, it’s difficult with our squad.

"We just have to grind on, obviously keep working on the training ground and doing things that [improve us], yeah it’s the only thing we can do."

There was a clash between Riveiro and Hunt in the technical area, but the Swanky Boys coach refused to open up on what caused it.

"I won't say anything, rather leave it. Nice guy, a lovely guy, thank you. I better not say because I am going to be hammered every week, congratulations to Orlando Pirates.

"It is amazing, only in this country but they are a good side, they have invested well in their team. They have got so many options, they are a good side and they will be able to be a force to be reckoned with.

"Nobody has played Chiefs, Pirates, Chiefs in a week. If Chiefs played Pirates, they never play Sundowns on Wednesday, so it is crazy."

SuperSport coach Hunt is under pressure to turn the fortunes around before things get out of hand.

For Riveiro, things are looking good, especially in the Premier Soccer League; winning the first four games is not a mean achievement.