Orlando Pirates Coach Jose Riveiro Criticises His Players After Their Defeat to Sekhukhune United

• Sekhukhune United beat Orlando Pirates in the DStv Premiership on Saturday
• The defeat to Sekhukhune saw Pirates' six-game unbeaten run come to an end
• Buccaneers head coach Jose Riveiro was not impressed with his players' attitude

Orlando Pirates suffered a frustrating 2-1 defeat to Sekhukhune United in the DStv Premiership, a setback after a historic Soweto Derby win earlier this month.

Buccaneers coach, Jose Riveiro, was not happy with the attitude of his players during the match.

Pirates went into the match on a six-game unbeaten streak in all competitions and were looking to build up on that as the season enters the final stretch.

However, they went behind after 32 minutes when Vusumuzi Mncube opened the scoring. Their situation worsened after the hosts scored early in the second half through Linda Mntambo.

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Pirates pulled one back five minutes later but couldn't mount a comeback against an in-form side, who had been unbeaten in five league matches.

The defeat saw the Bucs drop to fourth in the PSL table, with Lehlohonolo Seema's side replacing them in their third spot, per IOL.

Riveiro and his team are looking to make a return to the CAF Champions League next season.

Riveiro slams players' attitude

Speaking after the game, Riveiro shed light on what went wrong for his team during the game.

“We played well after the goal, we played very shy before the goal, I think that’s the summary of the game,” he said per Soccer Laduma.

“Lots of doubt in the build-up, in the first 30 minutes. Even though there were a hell of spaces and opportunities for us, we couldn’t, we were not in the right space to do it."

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Riveiro also felt the attitude of his players was not right.

“We did a lot of touches in the last 30 minutes of the match and we’re going [home] with zero [points]. It’s not because of the names on the field, it’s because of the attitude,”

Pirates will play Moroka Swallow in the Soweto Derby in their next match.

Riveiro pick Soweto Derby top players

Sports Brief earlier reported on Pirates coach Jose Riveiro picking two players that impressed him in the 180th Soweto Derby against Kaizer Chiefs, which they won 3-2.

The Spaniard praised Monnapule Saleng and Thabiso Lebitso, who got the goals. Saleng scored twice, while Lebitso scored a spectacular strike in the second half.

The win saw Pirates secure a double over their bitter rivals for the first time in 15 years.