Bartlett highlights Pirates loanee and Chiefs target’s strengths
Cape Town Spurs head coach Shaun Barlett has highlighted the strengths of Orlando Pirates loanee Boitumelo Radiopane and Kaizer Chiefs target Ashley Cupido, writes Joshua Hendricks.
The former Bafana Bafana striker was speaking to FARPost about how he utilises his front three at CT Spurs. Cupido, Radiopane and the experienced Therlo Moosa have carried Spurs’ hopes for PSL promotion.
The resurgent Urban Warriors have scored a total 38 goals in 27 games. The 21-year-old Cupido has contributed 14 goals, while the 28-year-old Moosa reached double digits against Platinum City Rovers on Friday afternoon.
On the other hand, Radiopane has registered seven goals despite arriving with a injury at the start of the Motsepe Foundation Championship.
BARTLETT ON RADIOPANE AND CUPIDO
“To have players like Boitumelo Radiopane, Therlo Moosa and Ashley Cupido in your squad is obviously great for us. As attacking players, all three have different attributes and characteristics,” Bartlett told FARPost.
“We try to use it to the best of our abilities to ensure that we can create opportunities for them. To add to this, they’re also converting more of their chances.
“So it’s always team effort and we know offensive players will always get the credit for scoring the winning goal and getting a team out of a sticky situation.
“For us, it’s always been about the collective approach because the clean sheets have helped us a lot in ensuring that we get to the goal difference that we are at now.”
The Cape Town outfit sits on a positive 15 goal difference at the summit of the Motsepe Foundation Championship, three better than Casric Stars [+12GD] who are level on points with them [53].
CT SPURS COACH OUTLINES RADIOPANE AND CUPIDO QUALITIES
“With Therlo, Ashley, Radiopane, it’s about using each one of them to the best of our ability; sometimes they are not all gonna start because I think it’s important for us to have impact players coming off the bench,” continued the former Kaizer Chiefs assistant coach.
“All three have proven that they are actually great at doing that, we try to match them according to the opponent. Trying to find the best match we need, and which player will give us the best possible option. In terms of getting the goals, creating the goals, coming off the bench to get the victory.”
“Going forward it will be the same. With Therlo Moosa when we signed him from the ABC Motsepe League in Cape Town, we had great hopes,” added the former Charlton Athletic forward.
“He has proven that he has got a great eye for goal, great aerial ability, strong number nine with good hold up play, and we can use that great sometimes as a weapon and as a last outlet pass.
“Radiopane with his speed and strength, same with Ashley with his speed and strength has proven to be very difficult for teams to handle and we hope for the next three games it will be exactly the same.
“Where they can put us in the driving seat and get goals early, giving us a good foundation to build on.”
Spurs will now play their next game away against 11th place Venda Football Academy on Saturday, while Casric are also on the road against Pretoria Callies on Friday and third-placed Polokwane City entertain Uthongathi on Sunday.
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