Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro says he is a 'proud coach' after winning his first trophy with the Soweto giants.
Pirates were crowned MTN8 champions for a record-extending fourth time after edging AmaZulu 1-0 in the final courtesy of a stunning free-kick by Monnapule Saleng.
"So happy, what can I say, I'm so glad to have the opportunity to play the final with a club like Pirates, with this support behind us and the way the players approached the game," Riveiro told SuperSport TV.
Read: Pirates clinch MTN8 honours in Durban
"We followed the difficulties that we suffered in the last two weeks and how we managed to compose ourselves and compete in this way, so I'm a very proud coach."
Riveiro also touched on the injury setback of Nkosinathi Sibisi early in the game, adding to a recent injury list.
"It's a big problem, obviously it's the first ball of the game, we suffered the injury in one department where we had problems recently but you see the guys they don't lose the focus, they continue with the plan," he said.
"It doesn't matter who's coming in the starting eleven, they are all training very well, they are all prepared, humbled and hungry at the same time. So the result it is what it is."
Thabiso Monyane also had to be replaced at half-time due to an injury as his place was taken by Bandile Shandu and the Spanish mentor revealed he could have been hauled off after half-an-hour.
"Ja, Thabiso was probably a change also after 30 minutes, try to keep that team on the field to not use two substitutions in the first half because we don't know what's going to happen in the second (half), that's why we need play Shandu and he did a fantastic job also."
When asked what he's learning working the Pirates group of players, he continued, "The same thing I said before, they are humble, they know what they are representing and they do it with passion everyday. At the same time they are hungry, they show that it's going to be difficult to deal with us and it's because of them," he said.
Riveiro added that he's looking forward to more finals with the current crop of players.
"Obviously, it's Orlando Pirates, all the things we're doing is to have the chance to play games like these that gives opportunity to get titles.
"I don't want to say it's mandatory but it's obviously the targets and the objectives of the club and we're here to try and do our best. I'm 100 percent sure that with this group it's not going to be the last time we find ourselves in a situation like this," he concluded.
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