Soweto Gaint Continues To Shine In Spain

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MALAGA: The Soweto giants went head-to-head with Ecuadorian outfit, Independiente Del Valle, who gave them a run for their money.

Orlando Pirates continue to impress in their European preseason campaign. The Buccaneers, who are in Spain to prepare for an upcoming 2023/24 Premier Soccer League (PSL) season and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) champions league campaign, have played two of their three scheduled friendly matches and won them.

They first took on Israeli giants, Maccabi Tel Aviv, and won by 1-0, courtesy of new signing and debutant Patrick Maswanganyi’s first-half goal.

Over the weekend, the Soweto giants went head-to-head with Ecuadorian outfit, Independiente Del Valle, who gave them a run for their money. Eventually, Jose Riveiro’s side won the match convincingly, as they walked away 3-1 victors, with all three goals for Pirates coming in the second half. Maswanganyi was on the score sheet again, along with Fortune Makaringe and Souaibou Marou.

The Spanish escapade seems to be going well for the Ghosts, who are playing top-level opposition while giving Riveiro, who is in his native country, a chance to see his new signings and the progress of his entire squad.

Up next for Pirates is Las Palmas, who have just been promoted to the top Spanish division, La Liga. They will lock horns on Wednesday, 19 July. This would be the Pirates’ last friendly match in Spain. Thereafter, they will return home.

Riveiro, who joined the Buccaneers last season after spending most of his coaching career in Finland, would want to build on what was a reasonably successful first season in South Africa, as he won a cup double: the MTN8 and the Nedbank Cup.

The 2022/23 DSTV runner-ups are being tipped to challenge the dominance of the reigning DSTV Premiership champions, Mamelodi Sundowns, for the league title. For the past six seasons, the Brazilians had no challengers.