Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro was impressed with a special gesture all-rounder Deon Hotto demonstrated towards a Stade d’ Abidjan player Yann Zebre in their 3-0 win over the Ivorian outfit in the CAF Champions League at Orlando Stadium on Saturday.

The Buccaneers ran riot in a match that saw them climb to the summit of Group C standings, ahead of defending champions Al Ahly in second place. The Egyptians succumbed to a 1-0 defeat to CR Belouizdad on Friday.

During the encounter, the Namibian international lined up a shot towards the end of the game but the ball hit Zebre’s manhood. While the attack was still there for Pirates, Hotto showed sportsmanship and kicked the ball out of play when an opposing player was on the ground in need of urgent medical attention, drawing praise from the opponent’s coach in the post-match press conference. 

Stade d’Abidjan goalkeeper Drissa Bamba even pat Hotto on his head showing that he welcomed the gesture instead of scoring his second and fourth goal for Pirates on the day.  

Riveiro welcomed the action as well as he believes Hotto did the right thing by prioritizing his counterpart’s health but admits in some instances there might be temptations to keep the momentum going as a coach.

“I think the game belongs to the players, and if Hotto in that particular moment decided we have to stop the game then we stop it and that’s it. Sometimes you feel the temptation to [continue] because you’re in the box, it’s an action that can have a different continuity,” Riveiro stated.

The Bucs mentor says the sportsmanship displayed by the 34-year-old versatile player, who won six domestic cup titles since joining the club in September 2020, is further proof that he plays the game with fairness.

“But it’s something to appreciate. I’m not going to disclose the type of person Deon is to anybody, everybody already knows Deon Hotto very well in this country and one more proof that he is a fair player with his mates and opponents as well,” said the 49-year-old tactician.

“He’s always in a competitive environment like ours that sometimes we use big words, big sentences it seems like we are talking about war more than sport. It’s nice to see some situations like this because, in the end, they are football players, they understand each other, and I think it was a human behavior from Deon.”

Hotto has established himself as an important figure in the squad and one of Riveiro’s trusted allies, with 22 appearances so far this season including four goals and as many assists. The ever-present hardworking player has only missed one match this campaign.

The Soweto Giants will return to Betway Premiership action with a visit to Cape Town City at the Cape Town DHL Stadium on Wednesday, knowing that a win will send them to the top of the table due to a superior goal difference.