Mix of pride, sadness for Riveiro after Orlando Pirates CAF Champions League exit

Football is a cruel sport. And Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro learnt that the hard way after his team failed to reach the CAF Champions League final.

Pirates lost 3-2 to Pyramids in the semi-final second leg in Cairo on Friday night – a result that sealed the tie after the 0-0 draw in the first leg.

It was a daunting end of the road in Pirates’ continental journey as they lost the only game they needed to win after an unbeaten campaign since the start.

Pirates had enjoyed a dream run on the continent as they were close to beating two stones with one bird: win the crown for the first time since 1995, and bid Riveiro a perfect farewell.

Yes, Pirates have never won the continental title in 30 years, while the last time they came close to achieving that feat, before Friday, was in 2013.

And having lost that final 12 years ago to Al Ahly in Egypt, this season was about making up for lost ground – get their revenge in Cairo, and eventually go all the way.

But it wasn’t to be. This was despite the fact that youngsters Relebohile Mofokeng and Mohau Nkota continue to enjoy their visits to North Africa after scoring the two goals against Pyramids.

Riveiro had brought belief into this team, with Mofokeng, Nkota and Co defying the young ages to show vast maturity which made The Ghost to start believing yet again.

The duo had already enjoyed being Pirates’ best players in North Africa, making five goal contributions between them in the previous three visits this campaign.

That’s why one of the reasons Riveiro was justified in saying the result was cruel for his team, which punched above their weight this season.

Riveiro said his words and showed he meant them. He cut an emotional figure deep in the bowels of the 30 June Stadium in his post-match press conference.

He was stumbling with his words as he battled to easily construct sentences, while his red eyes told a story of a man that was doing his best to hold back the tears from streaming down his face.

“It’s been second to none, honestly. We are out of the competition (Champions League) after losing our first match in the whole tournament,” Riveiro explained.

“A tough one to swallow, to digest. We will need a little bit of time, because I think it’s a very cruel result.”

Riveiro must have been truly taken aback by the outcome.

He had overcome early jitters in his Pirates career to become one of the most revered coaches the club has ever had.

As such, his last dance at the Buccaneers this season was set to be about going all out and winning an unprecedented quadruple, which included the Champions League title.

That has become a bridge too far, though.

But like most of the club’s supporters, Riveiro believes they couldn’t be prouder of their efforts.

“So, it’s a mix of pride and sadness at the same time,” added the 49-year-old Vigo-born mentor in Cairo.

“But I guess it’s a normal thing, and we’re falling, we’re getting out of the competition.

“But we do it in a good way, or in a way that we all have to feel proud about ourselves.”

Pirates do not have time to sulk and moan around. They must quickly dust themselves off, and prepare for massive back-to-back Soweto derbies.

They’ll face arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs in the Premiership on May 3 at FNB Stadium, and in the Nedbank Cup final seven days later at Moses Mabhida Stadium.

Winning both matches will go a long way in helping them win a treble, having already clinched the MTN8, and a feat that would at least bring some comfort after Friday’s cruel result.