Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro believes that having more players in the national team, Bafana Bafana, will benefit their CAF Champions League campaign.
READ: Mailula Agreement Reached, Announcement Imminent?
Speaking during a press conference at Orlando Stadium, ahead of the CAF Champions League second leg preliminary round against Madagascan side Disciples FC, Riveiro emphasized the importance of African experience for success in the tournament.
The Buccaneers drew 0-0 in the away game played on Sunday and need to win this evening to progress to the next round. So far, Pirates have seven players in the Bafana Bafana preliminary squad, including goalkeeper Sipho Chaine, defenders Thabiso Monyane and Nkosinathi Sibisi, midfielders Relebogile Mofokeng, Patrick Maswanganyi, and Talenthe Mbatha, and striker Evidence Makgopa.
READ: Percy Tau To Be Frozen Out At Al Ahly?
"It's important and the right opportunity to play those games. The responsibility of playing for your country, if you like it or not, will accelerate the process to get you to perform in those types of games. One clear example is Evidence Makgopa. I think the opportunity changed everything," Riveiro told the media.
"His performance in the Afcon and the player we got after that is a different one in terms of maturity and self confidence. So I am glad to see more names in the Bafana Bafana list and hopefully in the future that experience will help us and as a team we will get better. That's why we need to have more players in Bafana Bafana so they we have more players with African experience which will be good for us playing in the Champions League," the Spanish coach observed.
According to Riveiro, the experience gained by Pirates players in the national team will be invaluable as they aim to make a deep run in the CAF Champions League this season, starting with their crucial match against Disciples FC.
