The result meant the KwaZulu-Natal outfit avoided automatic relegation from the DStv Premiership and are now launching a late fight to stay away from the promotion/relegation playoffs.
While the chips were down at the Orlando Stadium, Bucs head coach Jose Riveiro was not entirely disappointed in the way his team played. The Spaniard suggested that the loss did not leave a big dent in their aspirations to qualify for next season’s CAF Champions League.
Pirates and Steve Barker’s Stellenbosch are in the race to become Mamelodi Sundowns’ groomsman as a runner-up spot guarantees them a shot at Africa’s premium inter-club competition.
“This is a defeat that is not going to affect us, there is no space to feel sorry for ourselves because we understand the dynamics of the game and sometimes you have these types of games. If we lose, let’s do it in this way,” said Riveiro.
“We played a final and one final and we lost one final, and we have another final this weekend in Mbombela (against TS Galaxy) and then we have another final with SuperSport United.