Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro has defended the lack of quality signings at the club, as pressure to challenge Mamelodi Sundowns for the Betway Premiership title begins to gain momentum.
Pirates has experienced an exodus of top players, stretching back to January, after Thembinkosi Lorch joined Mamelodi Sundowns.
During the off-season, the team waved goodbye to Kermit Erasmus, Fortune Makaringe, Richard Ofori, Siyabonga Mpontshane (retained in a coaching capacity), Thabang Monare, Vincent Pule, Marou Souaibou and Bienvenu Eva Nga.
READ: NEW JOB | 'Those who hold grudges against me are part of the devil'
The signings that have since been made have been far from being at the same level, with Gilberto and Deano Van Rooyen the outstanding two.
Other acquisitions include little-known lot of Ethan Khel, Dimpho Madalane, Bayanda Zulu, Thuso Moleleki (all from lower leagues) and Selaelo Rasebotja, who had no game time at SuperSport United.
Goodman Mosele has also returned from his Chippa United loan spell.
Is the Buccaneers' squad, therefore, good enough to challenge The Brazilians for the league title?
"There's no reason to put any limit on ourselves, same as we didn't have any reason [to do so] one year ago. We had enough quality and capacity one year ago to compete in every competition, not only second position in the league," Riveiro said on the Prime Sports With Mahlatse YouTube Channel.
"This season is not about having more or better players than before. Maybe it's about... it's our third year together, there's a lot of mechanisms and dynamics that are already there. You can see in our game [that] it's not the first time we play football together.
"That, for me, it's a little bit of an advantage, that continuity in the club, with the same core of players, same coach. [There are] some differences in the technical staff, but it's our responsibility to compete in every competition. It's our responsibility to fight for the title until the end," he added.
READ: Davids' Simba dish out another thrashing!
What could help Pirates this season in the league title race is the delay in the start of the league season, which has brought forward MTN8 fixtures.
At least in the last two seasons under Riveiro, the side could not deal with playing too many competitions within a short period of time and prioritizing the MTN8 saw them drop crucial points early on.
Bucs visit Cape Town City on Tuesday evening for the first leg of the MTN8 semi-final.