Head coach Jose Riveiro has admitted that one of the hidden key players is a doubt for the upcoming Soweto derby against Kaizer Chiefs, after missing out on Orlando Pirates’ match against Cape Town Spurs.
The Buccaneers' ambitions to secure a top-four spot well before the end of the DStv Premiership season suffered another dent as they were held to a 1-1 draw at Orlando Stadium on Wednesday.
READ | Pirates held by resurgent Spurs
Goals came from teenager Relebohile Mofokeng, who opened the scoring in the first half, before Spurs responded through Gadiel Kimagi in the second half.
As the Soweto giants battled to find the back of the net, the question on most Pirates supporters' lips was the absence of Makgopa, who had scored the winner in the previous week against Polokwane City.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Riveiro explained that the 23-year-old had suffered a knock and will furthermore be a doubt for the crucial Soweto derby against rivals Amakhosi.
"No, he got a decent knock against Polokwance City," Riveiro responded when asked if he had rested the striker for Saturday's big encounter.
"In the beginning, we thought that it was not going to be so relevant, but he couldn’t make it in this game and it’s a question mark also for Saturday (Soweto derby).
"No, nobody is resting. The substitutions we made today were almost all of them forced. Olisa [Ndah] was suspended and Evidence was not able to be in this game."
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The Spanish mentor’s words will be cause for some concern for Pirates supporters as Makgopa has been instrumental in not only providing the goals but also in how the team generally plays in attack when he is around.
This is in addition to the fact it was his goal that made the difference in the last derby having tapped home a Bandile Shandu cross past Itumeleng Khune in November 2023.
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