Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro has sent a message of encouragement to the club’s fringe players who have seen limited game-time this season.
Ahead of their Nedbank Cup last 16 clash against Venda Football Academy, the Spanish coach used the opportunity to urge the players to make the most of any opportunities that come their way.
“When you get an opportunity, make sure you don’t need a second one,” said Riveiro.
Players such as Fortune Makaringe, Ndumiso Mabena, Evidence Makgopa and Collins Makgaka have seen little game-time this season, with Riveiro’s anti-rotation policy making it difficult for them to break into the starting eleven.
However, the coach has commended their professionalism throughout the season.
“This is football, it’s obvious. Every player in every squad and Pirates is not an exception, they are happy when they are playing. They are 100% happy when they are playing. That’s the challenge, to manage the groups, making sure that everyone feels part of what we do, that even the players who are not in the in the game squad feel like part of the result, especially when it’s positive,” said Riveiro at the PSL headquarters in Parktown.
The coach added that it is his job to ensure that the players understand their roles, even if they are not in the starting eleven.
“During the season, usually everybody has the chance to show that they are capable to play and compete in a team like our team, but we’re humans, we all have emotions. There’s difficult moments during the season, but to be honest, it was a challenge for me obviously as a coach to manage a big group where every player can be starting 11 player,” he said.
Riveiro added that he is fortunate to have a group of players that are professional and understanding of their roles.
“But I’m very lucky because the players are making the task very easy for me. Their behavior from the beginning till now has been top and very professional and that’s the most important thing in every group, it doesn’t matter if it’s sport. Or we talk about anything else. Everybody must understand their role and we have to accept sometimes that my role is maybe secondary during a period, but it doesn’t mean that cannot be changed in the future,” he said.
The coach concluded by encouraging the players to make the most of any opportunities that come their way.
“So, our obligation, our responsibility and the players as well is to be prepared for the opportunities and when you get the opportunity, make sure that you know you don’t need a second one and that’s the competition. That’s professional football and we all need to accept it, understanding that we are all emotional and in our team there’s also space for the emotions and to have open conversations about individual situations and like I said, so far, it’s been it’s been quite good and stable in that sense,” said Riveiro.
