Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro has yet to taste defeat in the Nedbank Cup since he arrived in local football at the start of last season, excelling in a competition he repeatedly talks up as vital to The Buccaneers ambitions.
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His greatest test yet may come in the 2024 final when Pirates take on Mamelodi Sundowns at the Mbombela Stadium on June 1 (kick-off 15h00), the first time two of South Africa’s so-called ‘Big 3’ meet in the decider since 2008.
Pirates are, of course, the defending champions in the Nedbank Cup having beaten Sekhukhune United 2-1 in the 2023 final, which came in Spaniard Riveiro’s first season with the club.
"(Retaining the Nedbank Cup) is very important because it is South Africa’s top cup. The Nedbank Cup is an important trophy and every team who participates in the competition wants to go to the final at least,” Riveiro said.
"This cup is very important to everyone at the club, the players and coaching staff. We are all focused on this tournament and we will try (to win it) again."
Riveiro is on a run of only one outright knockout defeat in 19 domestic cup matches over the past two seasons, an incredible record that he will seek to maintain in the Nedbank Cup final.
Here is a list of Riveiro’s Nedbank Cup games so far:
ALL STARS 0 ORLANDO PIRATES 2
February 11, 2023 – Last 32
It took an hour for Pirates to make the breakthrough against second-tier All Stars as Monnapule Saleng and Thembinkosi Lorch eased the nerves of the side in the second period. It was a hard-fought clash that Pirates certainly did not have their own way.
ORLANDO PIRATES 2 VENDA FC 1
Orlando Pirates have scored the most goals in the 2024 #NedbankCup
— Official PSL (@OfficialPSL) May 30, 2024
Here are some of the standout goals they’ve scored ⬇ pic.twitter.com/Fc0IGK4tQ0
March 11, 2023 – Last 16
After extra-time
Another hard-fought clash against a second-tier side, Pirates led midway through the first period through Kermit Erasmus, but former Kaizer Chiefs forward Edmore Chirambadare equalised for Venda early in the second period. That sent the game to extra-time and Lorch came up with the winning moment in the 113th minute.
DONDOL STARS 1 ORLANDO PIRATES 1
April 15, 2023 – Quarterfinals
After extra-time; Pirates won 5-4 on penalties
Dondol Stars had already seen off SuperSport United and AmaZulu in the earlier rounds, but this was expected to be a comfortable cruise for Pirates. It proved anything but though as Lorch game them a second-half lead, only for Stars to hit back two minutes later through Tebogo Makungo. The game went to extra-time and penalties, with Pirates eventually triumphing 5-4 on spot-kicks.
KAIZER CHIEFS 1 ORLANDO PIRATES 2
May 6, 2023 – Semifinals
After extra-time
A Soweto Derby to add extra-spice to this semifinal and for the third game running Pirates were taken to extra-time. They led early on through Erasmus, but when Yusuf Maart equalised for Chiefs, the tie was thrown in the balance again. The winner came from an unlikely source as Sandile Mthethwa netted what remains his only goal in two years.
ORLANDO PIRATES 2 SEKHUKHUNE UNITED 1
May 27, 2023 – Final
Pirates had to come from behind to claim the title as Sibusiso Vilakazi put Sekhukhune into an early lead. Xoki equalised from the penalty-spot just before halftime, before Terrence Dzvukamanja prevented the game from going to extra-time with a 95th minute winner as The Buccaneers claimed the trophy.
CRYSTAL LAKE 0 ORLANDO PIRATES 6
February 24, 2024 – Last 32
Pirates came up against Mpumalanga fourth-tier side Crystal Lake and secured a handsome win. After an early own goal from the home side’s Adam Khumalo, Xoki scored twice (one penalty) to go with goals for Relebohile Mofokeng, Patrick Maswanganyi and Tshegofatso Mabasa. It is their biggest win in the Nedbank Cup since 2008.
ORLANDO PIRATES 4 HUNGRY LIONS 0
March 16, 2024 – Last 16
Pirates eased past second-tier Hungry Lions with another big win this season, though the tie was perhaps closer than the scoreline suggests. A Morena Monaheng own goal had Pirates in front at the break, but it wasn’t until Mabasa scored on 66 minutes that they doubled their advantage. Saleng and Mabasa added further goals to give the score a more emphatic look.
AMAZULU 2 ORLANDO PIRATES 4
April 13, 2024 – Quarterfinals
This always looked a tricky game on paper and so it proved, but Pirates came through in the end. They trailed in the first half but goals from Maswanganyi and Kabelo Dlamini turned the tie on its head. Usuthu equalised midway through the second period to make it 2-2, but Pirates mental strength shone through and they scored twice in the final 10 minutes as Makhehlene Makhaula and Dlamini netted for the visitors.
CHIPPA UNITED 1 ORLANDO PURATES 3
May 4, 2024 – Semifinals
Pirates made a fast start to this semifinal at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium as Dlamini netted inside five minutes and then got another shortly before halftime. There were some jitters for Pirates when Elmo Kambindu scored for Chippa, but the tie was made safe when Xoki netted his third of the competition with nine minutes left on the clock.