Thalente Mbatha has opened up about how outgoing Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro 'inspired' a massive change in his football.
Riveiro joined Pirate at the start of 2022/23 with little reputation.
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Two-and-a-half seasons later, he has collected five trophies and could add to that tally when his side meet old foes Kaizer Chiefs in the final of the Nedbank Cup at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday.
The match will be the last cup final for the 49-year-old tactician, who has yet to lose a single final during his tenure.
Aside from trophies, one of the major success stories under him has been the emergence of players signed, like the Spaniard, with little reputation, but have gone on to become household names.
"I have never doubted my talent, but I am someone who believed that one day [it will happen] the way it has happened.
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"For me, the coach has influenced my football in a way that I didn’t think would have happened because for a coach to come from overseas and coach here in South Africa is something that really inspires us. We believe that one day we will make it overseas," says the lanky midfielder.
Riveiro's last cup final kicks off at 15:30.
