Orlando Pirates midfielder Thalente Mbatha has expressed his deep gratitude to outgoing coach Jose Riveiro, crediting him with profoundly “influencing my football career” and transforming him “from nobody to somebody.”

Riveiro is set to depart Pirates at the end of his three-season tenure with the Soweto giants, during which he has led the team to five trophy victories to date.

The Spanish coach has the opportunity to secure a sixth trophy in a row when Pirates face their fierce rivals, Kaizer Chiefs, in the Nedbank Cup final at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday at 15:30.

Mbatha initially joined Pirates from SuperSport United in the latter half of last season on a loan deal for the remainder of the campaign. Prior to this move, he had played just 29 matches without scoring for the Tshwane-based club over three and a half seasons.

However, Mbatha’s impact at Pirates was significant enough for the club to make his move permanent during the off-season. This after he featured in 15 matches, notably earning the man-of-the-match award in Pirates’ Nedbank Cup final triumph against Mamelodi Sundowns at Mbombela Stadium last season.

Mbatha is now considered a pivotal player in the heart of the Orlando Pirates midfield and has also established himself within the national team setup. He scored two crucial goals in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers – against Uganda and Sudan in September of the previous year.

Both goals were dramatic late strikes, securing a 2-2 draw against Uganda at Orlando Stadium and a 3-2 away victory over South Sudan.

“I’m really grateful to the coach and the team for giving me the opportunity,” Mbatha replied to Sportswire on Thursday. “I never doubted my talent, but I believe that everything happens in its own time, and for me, the coach has influenced my football in a way that I didn’t think was possible. For a coach to come from overseas and have such an impact here in South African football is truly inspiring, and it makes us believe that one day we might also make it overseas.”

Riveiro’s announcement on 3 April that he would be leaving Pirates after three seasons came as a surprise to many in the football fraternity. Mbatha, whose career has seen a significant positive shift under the Spanish coach, was asked if he felt a sense of disappointment upon hearing the news.

“He didn’t tell us directly that he was leaving; we also saw the official statement from the club,” Mbatha explained, who has since featured in 54 matches for Pirates and scored five goals, along with three assists.

“But I believe that is something that is not at the forefront of our minds. As players, we understand the importance of professionalism and our focus remains solely on the game [on Saturday].”