Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro heaps praise on Makhehlene Makhaula after TS Galaxy win
|Published
Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro has sung the praises of key midfielder Makhehlene Makhaula following their sixth Betway Premiership win in a row.
Image: Itumeleng English/Independent Media
Following their 2-0 win over TS Galaxy to stretch their lead at the top of the Betway Premiership on Tuesday evening, Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro has sung the praises of key midfielder Makhehlene Makhaula.
The win for Pirates moved the Soweto Giants up to 18 points, six ahead of defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns.
In fact, Pirates have won six from six in the league as Sundowns have won four from five.
Sundowns have won the league the last seven seasons in a row, and it finally seems like Pirates will be genuine title contenders even though it’s still early in the campaign.
High praise indeed
Riveiro spoke about Makhaula who was given the man of the match award, after the clash.
“It means a lot because we’re used to giving individual awards to players that shine in the last metres of the game and not the ones that are shining in the first metres of the game and he’s one example in any possible means as a professional,” Riveiro told SuperSport.
“Makhaula’s reward also belongs to those who are working to keep a clean sheet.
“Like today I sent back usually they don't get recognition they deserve so happy for him because he's a very important player for us.”
It was not all good news for Pirates though, as they were without right back Deano van Rooyen for the match. Thabiso Monyane started in his place, and he too was substituted just after the hour mark.
“With this marathon we have to be ready for every kind of inconvenience because there's a lot of challenges in the game,” said Riveiro.
“Today was a game that was played in a really high tempo from the first minute with a lot of duels contact and it's normal to suffer these type of knocks when you try to be first and hopefully it's not going to be something serious.”