When Thabiso Sesane was handed his first team debut by Josef Zinnbauer four years ago, he had gone reason to feel encouraged.
Pirates were away at Angolan club Desportivo Sagrada Esperanca, where they won 1-0 in the CAF Confederation Cup with Sesane coming on from the bench towards the end.
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Less than two months later, he had his first start, which came in the Nedbank Cup.
By the end of that 2020/21 season, he had seven appearances but was then moved out on loan to Jomo Cosmos in the First Division, where he suffered relegation, though not playing as much as he would have preferred.
For all else that happened at Cosmos, it was the experience that counted, just like was the case when he went on another loan stint to Cape Town All Stars the next season.
After two years in the lower division, Sesane was back at Pirates last season and after watching from the stands in the first half, he suddenly found himself on the bench only twice for the last 13 games.
Riveiro had found a central defender to trust in the youngster as he started him in all his 11 appearances, including the Nedbank Cup final against Mamelodi Sundowns.
Into the 2024/25 campaign, the 24-year-old hasn't looked back.
He is one of four Pirates players that have featured in every minute of every match of the nine games to date this term in the CAF Champions League, Betway Premiership and MTN8.
Sipho Chaine and Patrick Maswanganyi have done the same and have already been rewarded with Bafana Bafana call-ups, while Deon Hotto is an established Namibian international.
Hugo Broos has followed events at Pirates with interest and taken notice rewarding Sesane with his first ever call-up after doing the same with Thalente Mbatha in the previous camp.
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Sesane has shown flashes of being composed with his confidence on the ball, which has aided the build-ups from the back playing with Olisa Ndah.
The experienced Nkosinathi Sibisi has been forced to watch from the bench with little mention of Tapelo Xoki as he works his way back from injury.