Orland Pirates coach Jose Riveiro has warned that this will be a vastly different Buccaneers team that will take on Kaizer Chiefs in their Nedbank Cup semi-final Soweto Derby at the FNB Stadium this Saturday.

Riveiro’s team has not lost a match since their last Derby defeat against Kaizer Chiefs in February, and they are now on an eight-match winning streak in league and cup fixtures.

The Buccaneers is hitting top form at a crucial stage of the season, with their CAF Champions League aspirations also still on track.

All of this brings a totally new mindset to a Soweto Derby that Kaizer Chiefs have dominated of late, and Riveiro believes his team has learned their previous Derby lessons well going into Saturday’s fixture.

“The Soweto Derby is one of the biggest games around the world in terms of passion and the feeling around this game,” Riveiro said.

“It’s a new experience for us together and we’re learning. We’ve learned from the previous Derbies and won’t make the same mistakes. Now we have an opportunity to express ourselves in a different way compared with the recent Derbies, and for sure we will not miss that chance.

“The result depends on many things, but what is 100% sure is that you’re going to see a different Orlando Pirates in this Derby.”

The Spanish coach said he is very happy with where his team is at, at this crucial moment in the season.

“We are privileged, because of the work we have done throughout the season, to now have the opportunity to play for important titles for the club and for ourselves in the future. We feel that we are arriving at this moment in the season in a very good space.”

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