Orlando Pirates legend Teboho Moloi believes the Soweto giants won the Nedbank Cup final against Mamelodi Sundowns from the bench.
Contrary to popular belief that the club's goalkeeper Sipho Chaine and Thalente Mbatha had a great match, Moloi thinks it was Pirates coach, Jose Riveiro, who won the club the R7 million match.
"It was the coach, he came up with the right game strategy," Moloi says, talking to this publication.
"He's been starting [Tshegofatso] Mabasa, [Kabelo] Dlamini and Relebohile Mofokeng, but on Saturday it was a surprise not to see them together in the starting line-up.
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"The question was, Relebohile, if the chips were down, coming on from the bench, was he going to be able to be a solution? Normally, as a coach you would start an experienced player on the bench so that he would lift the morale of the players when he comes in.
"So, Riveiro came up with something unexpected. the nicest part is at the end of the day, it was the youngster who came up with the winning goal," he added.
Moloi believes that while the win doesn't prove that Riveiro is above Rulani Mokwena as a coach, it serves as a dress rehearsal of what to expect next season.
"We've always wanted to see Pirates challenging Sundowns, they proved in the MTN8 final that they can beat Sundowns. Beating them in two finals in one season shows they can be able to match them in the league marathon. It shows they can challenge them.
"Pirates are the only team that can give Sundowns sleepless nights. On Saturday, Pirates proved they have closed the gap on Sundowns.
"The only thing Pirates need to fix is the consistency in the league, but when it comes to cups, Pirates beat Sundowns twice this season.
"So, Rulani knows he's got a headache now, he knows Pirates will give him a run for their money.
"Both teams have got depth now, so we are in for a treat next season. Riveiro's game plan was top-class on Saturday. Well played to a master plan. You can't single out one player.
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"He came up with a great plan and the execution was the best. It was a well-planned game plan. A master plan."
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