Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro said he’s honoured to have been selected to coach the Carling All-Star team against Magesi FC at the Orlando Stadium on Saturday.
The team was picked by fans across the country, and features most players from Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs.
The All-Star team, which will be captained by Pirates goalkeeper, Sipho Chaine, also includes Relebohile Mofokeng, Thembinkosi Lorch, Ashley du Preez, Monnapule Saleng, Gomolemo Kekana, Aiden McCarthy, Tshegofatso Mabaso and Patrick Maswanganyi amongst others.
Riveiro said the game is an opportunity for the players to enjoy themselves and entertain the fans.
“I just hope that we can offer a new show honestly, and people who are coming to the stadium have an opportunity to see goal chances and goals.
This is a scoring game, and we hope to score more goals than the opponent.
Like I said, make sure that the game is played at both sides, and goals, and our goalkeepers are having enough action.
That’s the main objective of these types of games to offer a good show, to give the players the opportunity and the platform to show who they are,” said Riveiro.
The Spaniard coach said he’s pleased that the Pirates players in the team will help communicate his instructions to other players, as they only have two days to prepare for Saturday’s clash.
“I have some of our players involved, they can obviously help to express what we want on the field in this short space of time.
They used to work with me, they understand quickly what we’re looking for, talented players as well, good leaders.
So, I’m happy to have them around and for sure their going to play an important role on Saturday,” explained the coach.
Magesi shocked Pirates by knocking them out of the round of 16 of the Carling Knockout Cup 3-2.
Riveiro however said the match will not be a revenge against the loss Pirates suffered against Magesi, who eventually won the Cup.
“It’s a different show, personally it’s the team that eliminated us in the competition early.
It was a difficult day, a strange one.
I don’t see the opportunity now as a kind of revenge.
We’ll have our own on the 29th.
Magesi FC is a watertight team, a tough team to play against,” highlighted Riveiro.
