Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro has hailed the overall contribution of Tshegofatso Mabasa after his brace in the Nedbank Cup Last 16 against Hungry Lions.
The defending champions are one of eight teams to have qualified for the quarter-finals, with Mabasa scoring a second-half brace as he continues to lead the line in the absence of Evidence Makgopa.
After the match, Riveiro praised the overall contribution of Mabasa, saying he is more just a number nine with goalscoring qualities.
“What I can tell you is what we are looking for in that position he fits well, he’s a striker that can help us to play better,” he told journalists.
“Not only [his finishing], we all know what Tshego can do in the box, he’s quality, he’s tiny in the air, he’s very complete, as close to the box as possible.
“But he’s also improving his playing far from the box, it’s also giving us a lot of things, improving.
“Like I said, he is a striker – we don’t we don’t only see the number nine as a player to just finalize the action in the box and that’s it.
“He is a player that needs to help us to play better, to play the football that we want to play, to be in contact with theball, to dominate the central laine of the field, to create the spaces for our three number 10s – all of them that when they are on the field, they have a difficult, difficult work to do.
“And Tshego, so far is doing well. And good for him, good for the team, he is also finding the back of net, which is also obviously very important for a number nine.”
Pirates and the other quarter-finalists will find out their Last 8 opponents in Monday’s Nedbank Cup draw.
