Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro has provided a detailed insight into Boitumelo Radiopane’s limited game time at the Soweto Giants in what is his first full season under the Spanish mentor’s tutelage at the club.

After impressive performances in the Dstv Diski Challenge where he won the Golden Boot and was subsequently named player of the season, Radiopane was promoted to the first team during the 2021/22 season.

However, he has since struggled to establish himself in the team and was sent out on loan to Cape Town Spurs in the next two seasons following that breakout campaign but his stint with the Urban Warriors was hindered by a major bone fracture injury in June 2023.

Now, having earned Riveiro’s trust, the 22-year-old scored his first senior goal for the club in the 8-1 thrashing of Marumo Gallants after the Bucs bench called for a penalty awarded to Pirates to be handed to Radiopane to boost his confidence, much to the delight of the 49-year-old tactician.

“I already said it not long time ago, the human level of this group [of players] is something else this season, to be honest. They make us feel proud almost every day for things that I cannot say in public, things that belong to the privacy of the team,” Riveiro said.

Riveiro, who is in the final year of his three-year contract, went on to explain that the Sebokeng-born striker is not a regular starter due to stiff competition with experienced senior figures in the squad in a side that sets up with a lone center-forward.

“They care about each other knowing that the competition in the team for players like Radiopane, for example, is terrible. I mean he’s competing with Bafana Bafana striker, with last season’s top goal scorer Tshegofatso Mabasa,” the Buccaneers’ coach highlighted.

“And it’s difficult to get minutes in a team that plays with one no.9 so far, but the way that he’s working every day, the dedication, the professionalism, the good show that you saw against [vs Gallants] that everyone was happy to see Radiopane on the field having the opportunity to score a goal to get confident because we need everybody.

The three-time MTN8 winner expressed satisfaction with long-term absentees getting the opportunity to get minutes under their belts as they gear up for a demanding fixture schedule next year, both on the domestic and continental stage.

“We are going into a very congested period of games in January, and February. It’s nice to see Tapelo [Xoki] back also making the first minutes after a long time out of the field. Azola Tshobeni also coming and playing some minutes,” stated Riveiro.

“Rele [Mofokeng] little by little showing the player that he can be for the team as well, so a lot of good things around the result [8-1 vs Gallants]. The result is the most important but when you have a look at the small details around the 90 minutes, there are a lot of positives for the team.”