Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has provided some insight on his decision to stick with under-fire striker Boitumelo Radiopane.
The Soweto giants secured a 1-1 stalemate having netted in the dying minutes in the first leg of the MTN8 semi-final against Sundowns at Orlando Stadium on Saturday.
Pirates supporters will feel they could have won the encounter had their side taken their chances, one of which went to substitute Radiopane, who was also through on goal but had a bad first touch and allowed the opposition to regroup.
Although Evidence Makgopa got the nod to start, it was only his first start in three matches, as Radiopane has emerged to be the preferred starting striker for Ouaddou.
Speaking to media after the match against Sundowns, the Moroccan-Frenchman provided some insight on what makes Radiopane a delight to work with.
"Because these kinds of players, I think, it’s easy for a coach because he has a fantastic mentality. He’s a well-educated player and a man, respectful," said Ouaddou, speaking to journalists.
"He is a worker. So, I’m lucky to have such players to train, and he’s a professional. It means when we call him for duty, he doesn’t have any problem sitting on the bench and coming back to give everything.
"You know, I gave him 10 minutes. I told him, 'Son, you have 10 minutes. Go to score your goal.' And he nearly scored, and he gave everything. It’s the mentality that the coach is waiting for (from) his players.
"And all my players, I’m really, really lucky about all the players that I have in Pirates. They have a fantastic mentality. It’s one of the first dressing rooms that I have seen with such a great mentality of the players," explained the coach.
Radiopane and Co. return to action on Wednesday against Stellenbosch FC at Orlando (19:30).
