While Jose Riveiro has been hailed for transforming Orlando Pirates into a consistent and cup-winning team, the mentor's impressive work in improving individual players has also been noticeable.
With the Buccaneers heading to their third successive MTN8 final where they will be playing against Stellenbosch FC on the weekend, there are several players who could be match winners for the team, judging by the team's run so far in the competition.
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On their way to the final, Bucs scored six goals, with three in the 3-1 win over SuperSport United in the quarter-finals from Olisa Ndah, Monnapule Saleng and Evidence Makgopa, one via the boot of Relebohile Mofokeng in the 1-1 first leg semi-final match against Cape Town City, while Tshegofatso Mabasa and Deon Hotto netted in the 2-0 second leg victory in Orlando.
While Ndah and Saleng missed this past weekend's Betway Premiership match against Richards Bay FC after picking knocks last Tuesday against Polokwane City, others feel that excluding the in-form duo from the matchday squad might have also been an opportunity for Pirates coach Jose Riveiro to rest them.
Former Pirates striker James Mothibi believes that the minor knocks to the two players could be a blessing in disguise before the big one at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday.
"When you rest players, you don't just do that for the sake of doing it, but it means you have a plan, and in this situation, it looks like the plan is for Pirates to win the MTN8 trophy. Yes, some of the players have had minor injuries but the most important thing for the club is to win the trophy. That's what is going to be important for the Orlando Pirates supporters, management and the chairman," said Mothibi, speaking exclusively to the Siya crew.
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"Pirates have been playing a lot of matches in the different competitions and therefore it is important for the players to be managed properly, starting from training in making sure that the intensity of the sessions is reduced to deal with the congested fixtures, especially with a cup final coming up. So, if this is all about resting the players, the coach is on point because even if the players are not injured, there is a certain way of training a senior player as opposed to a youngster, how you design the sessions isn't the same for all of them. I know this from a position of being a coach myself. The coach knows what he is doing and going to the game on the weekend, Pirates will perform at their best and win the trophy with some the players who scored in the previous matches in this competition doing well again. My score prediction is 3-1 to Pirates," he concluded.
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