Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro admits that players who are out of contract are raising their game towards the end of the season.
But he’s admission was general, not only about Pirates current squad, as they chase their end-of-season objectives.
The likes of Richard Ofori, Siyabonga Mpontshane, Thabang Monare, Makhehleni Makhaula, Bandile Shandu, Kermit Erasmus and loanee Thalante Mbatha’s contracts run until July.
“I don’t know how big the role is of that issue you’ve mentioned is playing right now for the end of the season, but not only Orlando Pirates, I guess it’s something general with every other team and it’s normal,” Riveiro said when asked by iDiski Times.
“We’re going to the last stages of the season, to the last weeks and the fact that everybody, almost everybody is playing for important objectives, I want to think as a coach, that is what’s raising the level of each and every individual.
“It’s normal as professional football players that they are also keeping one eye on their futures and trying to deliver what they’re supposed to be delivering in their clubs and in our case it’s not an exception, everything in the end as a pack is going to contribute to get our objectives end of the season as a team.
“Then as individuals, we understand everybody is also thinking about their own futures and careers, if it’s like that, it’s also good, it’s an extra for the team.”
Pirates are in third place, three points behind second-place Stellenbosch with six games remaining in the league, while they face Chippa United in the Nedbank Cup semi-finals.
