Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro has heaped praise at the team despite playing to a goalless draw against Egyptian giants, Al Ahly, in the CAF Champions League group C match at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto on Saturday.
The coach is adamant that if the team continues to display the gallant fighting spirit it did against the CAF cup specialists, they can beat any club in the world.
“The lessons for us is that when we play at this level with this level of concentration, ambition and determination, we can on the day compete with everyone.
We came here with an inexperienced and young team, playing against a team with a lot of experience in this type of games and with very mature players and we cope.
During more times and spaces, we managed to be superior.
We should feel stronger after this match,” said Riveiro.
In addition, the Spanish-mentor said the lessons learnt by the players from such matches that have a high level of concentration, ambition and determination, proves that they can compete with everyone.
“We came here with an inexperienced and young team, playing against a team that’s opposite of that, a team with experience in this type of game and with very mature players and we coped…we, for the better part of the game, managed to be superior.”
“We should feel stronger after this match. If we face the games with today’s attitude, tomorrow we will be a better team,”
The draw leaves both clubs at the helm of Group C with four points, however the Egyptians are on top because of a goal difference.
Meanwhile, in another CAF Champions League match, Mamelodi Sundowns, played to a 1-1 against AS FAR Rabat in Morocco on Saturday night.
Masandawana were the first to put the ball behind the net through striker Iqraam Rayners.
But they squandered the lead and allowed the host to equalise through captain Mohamed Hrimat.
Coach Manqoba Mngqithi was however pleased with the team’s performance.
“I don’t think it makes our mission very difficult because we played very well and under normal circumstances, a match like this we would win, but we didn’t win.
It’s obviously a valuable point away from home and we’re still going to play them at home.
The fact that we got two points, can change this thing.
I’m also happy with the way we played,” said Mngqithi.
Sundowns has now failed to collect maximum points for a second straight match in Group B, and remain second in the group and two points behind AS FAR.
In another match, Stellenbosch FC will host RSB Berkane from Morocco in the CAF Confederation Cup at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
