Riveiro is trying to swiftly adjust to continental football.

Head coach Jose Riveiro of the Orlando Pirates believes that in order to support his team’s success in the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League this season, he must swiftly pick up and adjust to continental game.

On Thursday, the Spanish coach gave a speech from his team’s Johannesburg training camp in advance of the Buccaneers’ return leg matchup with Djabal of Comoros on Friday night at Orlando Stadium.

The Islanders will be welcomed to Soweto by the 1995 winners and 2013 runners-up, who lead 1-0 going into the match thanks to a late goal from Zakhele Lepasa in the first leg.

The Spaniard led the team to two cup final victories and a second-place finish in the championship in his debut season as Pirates coach, replacing Mandla Ncikazi, who had led the team to the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup final two seasons prior.

Riveiro acknowledged that the competition was unfamiliar to him but expressed his readiness to swiftly adjust in order to support his team. Now, he must replicate the same level of success on the continent.

“It’s new to me, but prior to the competition, I had excellent instruction.” My players and coaching staff provided me with a wealth of knowledge to help me mentally prepare for a competition that demands a different approach. The coach remarked, “You have to be prepared to respond and adjust yourself to different conditions.”

Speaking about the team’s slim lead going into the second leg in Orlando, Riveiro issued a warning not to become too comfortable, pointing out that margins in modern football have shrunk and that every game requires meticulous preparation.

It will not be simple. The game is knockout. The benefit isn’t substantial enough to declare this task completed. We are starting with a one-goal edge over a disciplined team. They could compete with us because they were incredibly physical, powerful, and athletic.

“The outcome will follow from our clear understanding of what we want and the kind of performance we want to give. These days, there is relatively little separation between the teams in football. This is not an exception—if you’re asleep, you’re out,” cautioned Riveiro.