Pirates coach was sure decisive derby penalty would go in

Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro said he could not watch the decisive penalty from Patrick Maswanganyi in Saturday’s derby against Kaizer Chiefs but was sure that it would go in.

“Look, I don't watch penalties, not because I don't trust the players, but it’s too much for me sometimes to be sitting there and trying to anticipate what's going to happen,” he said after the 1-0 win that moved the Buccaneers to within three points of leaders Mamelodi Sundowns in the championship chase.

“But this time, and I'm not trying to be cocky, I knew we’d score … just leave it there. I knew. I knew that if something happened like this, he's (Maswanganyi) going to take the ball, because as much as people sometimes want to be criticise Patrick, for me, from a coaching perspective, give me players that always want to be on the ball in situations like this,” he added.

“In games like this, when the things are not going well, he always wants the ball and he's making mistakes because he's putting himself on the line all the time.

“So we are blessed to have a player like him around, and as much as sometimes he's doing things that are not easy to understand, I want him to be himself on the field, because that's the way that we can also get the best out of Patrick in each and every game.

“And I think he showed that he has that that kind of personality to ask for those moments when the situation is crucial, is critical and is not easy to take, and there's not many personalities like that.”

Riveiro also had plenty of praise for the 35-year-old man of the match Makhehlene Makhaula.

“I think his performance speaks about the moments. I think his performance is talking volumes about him … he’s a proper professional. I think you can imagine he's working so hard, he's pushing himself and everybody around to have this mentality that is taking us to the space where we are right now. And he was a crucial part.”