Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou says he was pleased to see Evidence Makgopa use the opportunity given to him in the CAF Champions League second round preliminary, second leg win over Africa Stars.
Makgopa, 26, completed a brace while also providing an assist in the 4-0 drubbing of the Namibian side in Orlando on Friday, helping Pirates to win the tie 5-0 on aggregate.
The result saw the Buccaneers qualify for the Champions League group stage for a second time in three campaigns.
The striker missed the majority of Pirates’ opening matches this season with injury. Ouaddou said the Bafana Bafana international was just fantastic on the night and his performance gives him freedom to be able to rotate players when the group stage commences.
“Regarding Evidence you know, his last regular game was last season, and we wanted to give him the opportunity today,” said Ouaddou.
“And I think he took it he was just fantastic. He was moving everywhere. He took the space. I was happy. Something that I told him to improve on was to hold the ball between the lines as a wall player, and he allowed us to play some layoff and to find the third man.
“And he’s scored It’s very positive for me. It’s an area that I want efficiency. And now I have [Boitumelo Radiopane] Radio, I have [Yanela] Mbuthuma, [Sebastian] Pedersen, [Sifiso] Luthuli, everybody is scoring.
“So it’s very good news for us because to get in the group stages will allow me to rotate and to give the opportunity to all the players. I have won one more player today again with Evidence.”