Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro has praised the impact and development of Thalente Mbatha and Relebohile Mofokeng after their fine performances in the Nedbank Cup final.
Mbatha picked up the Man of the Match award, while Mofokeng was the hero of the afternoon with his 94th-minute toe-poke winner, , as Pirates beat Mamelodi Sundowns 2-1 to defend their Ke Yona title.
Riveiro discussed the development and performance of both players, saying Mbatha will only get better.
“Still a long way for Thalente to improve and to understand and to correct,” he told journalists.
“You all can see he’s a very, very interesting prospect and also a player with a curious self confidence and personality. That’s why again, we trust him to play games like the game that we played Sundowns.
“A young player, making almost his first steps at at this levels. So he can only improve in the next in the next part of his career. I’m 100% Sure.”
Riveiro also said Saturday’s goal can be a very important moment in Mofokeng’s career, and believes that if the 19-year-old continues on the same path, the future looks bright for him.
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“Well, I’m sure for Rele [Mofokeng] it’s a very important moment,” Riveiro said.
“Coming from the bench again in this scenario with this opponents, score a goal when the time is over, to help us to lift one more trophy.
“Again same as Thalente [Mbatha], first steps in this level, improving week after week. I hope that you do notice that he is getting really, really complete as a football player.
“And the future looks looks bright for him. I just hope that he can continue in the space that he is right now – how humble he is, how much he listens, how much he tried to get more complete.
“And that’s why he is where he is and that’s why the national team coach is also getting attracted by his quality and again same as Thalente, he can only improve. Because he is smart he’s skillful, he loves to play football.
“So as long as he continues in the space that he is right now there’s only going to be improvement and hopefully everyone can enjoy him in the in the national team regularly.”
