Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro has explained the inclusion of six young players in the Soweto derby against Kaizer Chiefs.
The Buccaneers triumphed over their rivals on Saturday with 2-1 victory as the club push for the South African League title.
Rivero has been in an excellent form in the Soweto derby, securing seven wins and losing only two matches.
Pirates fielded a youthful lineup featuring Mbekezeli Mbokazi (19 years), Relebohile Mofokeng (20), and Mohau Nkota (20 years).
The Buccaneers further showcased their commitment to youth development by introducing three DStv Diski Challenge (U-23) players in the second half, Simphiwe Selepe (20 years), Boitumelo Radiopane (22 years), and Siyabonga Ndlozi (22 years). Yanga Madiba remained an unused substitute.
The trio replaced Thalente Mbatha, Evidence Makgopa, and Bandile Shandu as Pirates kept their slim title hopes alive, staying within reach of league leaders Mamelodi Sundowns.
“All of us are proud of them, I am giving them the opportunities by putting them on the field because they are showing every week on the training field they want the opportunity and they are prepared. It is not about age but it is about talent, being professional and giving them confidence and showing them we trust them. I have said it many times already that what you get from academy players is something you cannot get from anywhere.
Rivero added: They have something special and they look at the club in a different way. They spent some time around the club as ball boys while playing for the DDC and sometimes coming to train with the first team to experience the culture so that when they are ready to go they will do something special. This is not the ‘Riveiro vision’ but that of Orlando Pirates and they are doing a good job in that sense. My job as a coach is to give them the tools to do well and that’s what we do [with] the rest of the technical staff”
