Orlando Pirates mentor Jose Riveiro has had his say on goalkeeper Melusi Buthelezi after a costly howler in their 3-1 defeat to SuperSport United in a DStv Premiership clash on Saturday evening.
The game took place at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium. Shandre Campbell’s brace and a goal from Bradley Grobler were enough to earn Matsatsantsa maximum points at home.
Fortune Makaringe scored the only goal for the Soweto giants, as early as five minutes into the showpiece.
After the game, the Spanish coach, Riveiro, backed his goal-minder, Buthelezi, following his mistake that cost the Buccaneers.
JOSE RIVEIRO ON MELUSI BUTHELEZI’S MISTAKE
In defence of Buthelezi, Riveiro stated that we all make mistakes in our professions, and reckons that “football is a game of mistakes.”
“Nothing, they are professional football players. They are here to perform and sometimes they make mistakes,” said Riveiro.
“Everybody makes mistakes in our professions, right? So, we are not superheroes. We don’t do everything perfectly and it was a mistake but football is a game of mistakes.
“Sometimes mistakes finish in goals. We also made a mistake in the first one, now we are looking to the keeper but if you see the first goal that we conceded, this is even more serious than the other one. Even the second one is more serious than the third one.
“Nothing to say tonight to the individuals. I think they tried to play good football but it’s difficult to say that with a 3-1 against.”
As things stand, Pirates are placed third on the DStv Premiership table with 25 points, whereas SuperSport sit in second place with 29 points. Both teams have played 15 matches each.
Pirates will now shift their focus on their next league match against the Carling Black Label champions Stellenbosch FC on Friday, 29 December 2023. The game will take place at Orlando Stadium, with the kick-off set for 20:00.
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