Why Riveiro Is Elated To Oust Baroka In 90 Minutes
Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro expressed satisfaction on overcoming second-tier outfit Baroka FC in regulation time in their Nedbank Cup round of 16 clash on Saturday and explained the importance of achieving the feat.
The defending champions booked their spot in the last eight of the competition after striker Tshegofatso Mabasa scored a hat-trick against the Limpopo-based club – goals that took him to second place in the Buccaneers’ all-time top scorers list.
The 28-year-old center-forward is just 14 goals away from equaling the record of Benedict ‘Tso’ Vilakazi, who sits atop with 58 goals scored in the PSL era. Moreover, Mabasa has become the club’s all-time top scorer in the Nedbank Cup with eight goals.
Meanwhile, Riveiro at the helm, has shed light on the significance of advancing to the next round without having to go through extra time, with games coming thick and fast in different competitions they are competing in.
“Obviously, something that we don’t need is time because it will affect a lot the planning next week, we have a difficult game away and it’s Golden Arrows, we are hosting Cape Town City on Saturday – so it’s good to finish the game in 90 minutes,” the Bucs coach noted.
The Spanish mentor also relished the chance to offer squad players some minutes off the bench with the game all but done at 3-0, which saw the Soweto giants rest starlet Relebohile Mofokeng, who has featured in 30 matches across all competitions this season.
“We also had the opportunity [to play fringe players], not because we felt the game was over because in this game of football, you never know but getting a 3-0 lead gave us an advantage to take Rele [Mofokeng] off early to give him a rest,” Riveiro added.
“He’s one of the players together with Deon [Hotto], who play every single game, so we are happy to finish this round inside 90 minutes.”
The Sea Robbers will learn their quarterfinals fate when the Nedbank Cup draw is conducted on Monday as they now switch their focus to the Betway Premiership where they will be determined to get back to winning ways.
