Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro has acknowledged the quality displayed by new signing Thalente Mbatha following his debut for the club on Saturday.
Mbatha joined the Buccaneers on a six-month loan deal from SuperSport United last month.
He was impressive during his first full match when Pirates walloped minnows Crystal Lake in the Nedbank Cup Last 32 in Mbombela on Saturday.
Riveiro admits, just like any young player, the 23-year-old needs some polishing but acknowledged his quality.
THALENTE MBATHA SHOWS GOOD QUALITY DURING HIS ORLANDO PIRATES DEBUT
“Like everybody else, you think about the names we have in the midfield. The competition is tough because it’s full of quality and experience,” he said.
“Young players like Thalenthe [Mbatha] who want to make their own name in the competition. The boy is a talented player,” added Riveiro.
JOSE RIVEIRO WANTS HIS PLAYERS TO BE PRECISE ON THE FIELD
“The messages are coming every day. In the training, in the meetings before the training, and after the training. Then we come to the game, and the message should be internalised and clear about what they need to deliver on the field,” he said.
“We try to give the boys all the confidence. But not to immediately try to get what we want from them, but it’s more about first what they can put on the table themselves.
“So there is always space for the football that they can bring, and then we have time to start to polish the possible mistakes or things that the boys can do better. So we try to give them confidence, and Thalente is not an exception.”
Meanwhile, Tshegofatso Mabasa scored in his first game since his return from a loan spell at Moroka Swallows. Mabasa, who last played for Pirates during the 2021/22 season also spent the previous season on loan at Sekhukhune United.
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