Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has opened up on the decision of dropping Evidence Makgopa for Boitumelo Radiopane against AmaZulu.
Pirates cruised to a 3-0 win over Usuthu at the Orlando Amstel Arena in the Betway Premiership, maintaining pressure in the title race.
Makgopa, increasingly used as a substitute in recent matches with Yanela Mbuthuma favoured up front, was absent from the squad altogether.
Radiopane earned a place on the bench, while Mbuthuma started and netted the opening goal.
Ouaddou emphasised that Radiopane deserved an opportunity after putting in the work in training to bounce back, having also been affected by injuries earlier this season.
“It was a decision from the technical staff,” said Ouaddou.
“He [Radiopane] was working for a long time, trying to come back. If you remember just before the break, he played in the Carling All-Star game and scored.
“He’s been giving his best in training and we thought with the staff, it was the moment to give him some time.
“And we managed to do that in terms of game-time. It’s important for our strikers to be competitive in terms of the game-time.
“We thought for Evidence, he needs full 90 minutes in terms of competitiveness. We brought Radio, I think it gives him confidence.
“It means a lot for him also to see that the technical team is looking at him.”
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