Orlando Pirates first beat Mamelodi Sundowns in the MTN8 final in October 2023.
That was followed by the Soweto giants again showing character to come from behind and beat Masandawana in the Nedbank Cup final.
Frustrating the Brazilians twice in Cup finals might not be viewed as a fluke but a hint of what to expect from Pirates next season.
The Buccaneers’ coach Jose Riveiro is humble in his assessment of their achievements but sends a subtle warning to break Sundowns’ dominance of local football.
“If you ask me as a person who’s involved in the group every single minute and I know what we are, what you used to say here ‘cooking’,” said Riveiro as per SABC Sport.
“We are cooking, I think the progression, the evolution of the team, this season is superior to the last season in my opinion,” Riveiro said.
“That means 8/10 or seven and a half, I don’t know, it might be our fans the ones who will in the end and you guys judge the work that we do but me because my position may be an important part of the group. “Like I said before the final this season in terms of football is better than the last season.”
However, despite frustrating Masandawana in two Cup finals, Pirates were static in terms of silverware collection although Riveiro sees themselves as having improved from the previous campaign.
In the 2022/23 season, they won the MNT8, Nedbank Cup and finished as Premier Soccer League runners-up to Sundowns.
That was exactly what they achieved this just-ended term in which they did not add a trophy more although they showed potential to completely break the Brazilians’ supremacy in domestic football.
