Mamelodi Sundowns be warned! Jose Riveiro asks Orlando Pirates players 'to not look at PSL table' because 'it’s still a long way to go'

Orlando Pirates registered another win in the Premier Soccer League after securing a 1-0 victory over Chippa United at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

Nkosinathi Sibisi nodded in Relebohile Mofokeng's corner to hand his team maximum points.

The Sea Robbers, who have four matches at hand, are now 16 points behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, who drew 1-1 with Golden Arrows.

On Wednesday, Mbekezeli Mbokazi was another youngster who was given a chance by Jose Riveiro. Just like Mofokeng and Mohau Nkota, he put up a decent shift. The Spaniard is happy with what the reserve team is doing.

“I think they did a good job; like I said many times, we have a lot of talent in the squad. When you see players on the bench or the field, it is because they are ready," he stated.

“Young boys, 22, 19 years old playing the first time in PSL in an important game for the team, for the club under pressure.

“I think what they delivered tonight on the field is something to give a lot of value and to be happy as a club.”

The Sea Robbers have four games at hand, but Riveiro insists it is not an advantage for him and his players.

“It’s still a long way to go; it’s difficult to know where you are when you have three, four or five games in hand. You want to be optimistic that you will collect all the points and then the gap is going to be different.

“Because we don’t know, the only thing we can do is to focus on the next one. That’s what we try to do in the best of our capacity to just think that every game is an opportunity to dream, to do something big."

Riveiro has encouraged his players not to concentrate too much with the standings but on what is coming.

“That’s the way we are facing the games, we are not; at least personally and I try to explain the same thing to my players, to not look at the table, to not look at the log because the reality is still not there.

“It’s gonna be there soon, hopefully in some weeks. But right now it’s just 16 teams trying to fight for their position in the log, we are trying to find our own and focus on our own race," he concluded.

The Buccaneers continue with their Nedbank Cup defence this weekend.

On Saturday, they will be playing SuperSport United in the quarter-final game that will be staged at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium.

After winning the MTN8, Bucs will be hoping to go all the way in the Nedbank Cup.