Head coach Jose Riveiro has weighed in on the struggles of striker Tshegofatso Mabasa to nail down a place at Orlando Pirates, eventually spending loan spells at Sekhukhune United and Moroka Swallows.
Mabasa has been a revelation this season, shooting up to within an inch of the summit of the top scorers’ list with a hat-trick against Lamontville Golden Arrows that took his league-goals tally to 10 - just one behind Mamelodi Sundowns' Lucas Ribeiro Costa.
READ | Bucs legend picks Maswanganyi as signing of the season
However, the striker’s form has raised questions over how Pirates had missed the opportunity to keep Mabasa before he headed out on loan to Sekhukhune, then later Swallows.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference ahead of the Nedbank Cup quarter-finals match against AmaZulu FC, Riveiro insists it was never his decision to send Mabasa on loan.
"Okay, I have to tell the truth... I mean, when I arrived [at Pirates], Tshego was not with us, this is my first time with Tshego," Riveiro told journalists on Wednesday.
"We had eight number nines the first time I put my foot in the training ground for (at) Pirates, Tshego was not one of them. The reasons, I cannot really tell you.[They] probably are related to his performances, for whatever reason. Or because at that moment some other players were performing better, I don’t really know.
"I cannot really answer that question because I didn’t have that conversation with Tshego actually. I had a different one when he came back [from Swallows].
"So, I don’t really know if he was in a different space or if he was asking for a loan because he wants to be consistently on the field (playing more often), and maybe at the time at Pirates it was difficult, for whatever reason, so I don’t really know.
"What I know is that he’s back, he’s performing at a really good level," he added.
ALSO READ | Riveiro's wish for hot-and-cold Kimvuidi
"Like I said many times already, he is helping us to play better, not only to score goals. Again, going back to the result and performances, we are not looking at the striker because he’s scoring goals or not.
"Goals are welcome obviously, [but] there’s many more things to do on the field before we score the goal. Hopefully he continues in the space, and shape – because it’s nice to see a player of his talent performing in this way, at this level.
"The reasons why he couldn’t make it before? Good question, but wrong person."
Mabasa is in line to add to his tally of 13 goals across all competitions when Pirates meet AmaZulu on Saturday at Moses Mabhida Stadium.
You must be SIGNED IN to read and post comments.
Click HERE to register!
