Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro has explained the absence of Evidence Makgopa in their DStv Premiership clash against Cape Town Spurs on Wednesday night in Soweto.
Makgopa was a notable absentee as Pirates dropped two crucial points after playing to a 1-1 draw against CT Spurs at Orlando Stadium.
The former Baroka FC talisman netted a vital goal for the Buccaneers in their previous match to defeat Polokwane City 1-0.
Makgopa has been the preferred choice to lead the Pirates’ striking force in the 2023/24 season. He has made 20 appearances across all competitions and scored six goals while providing two assists thus far.
His good form for Pirates earned him a place in the Bafana Bafana squad that won a bronze medal at the 2023 AFCON staged in Ivory Coast.
The 23-year-old has managed to keep Kermit Erasmus, Souaibou Marou, and Zakhele Lepasa out of the Pirates’ starting lineup.
But he missed the CT Spurs game as Tshegofatso Mabasa was leading the front line. Mabasa returned to the Soweto-based side during the January transfer from his loan spell with Moroka Swallows.
WHY EVIDENCE MAKGOPA WAS MISSING IN ACTION FOR PIRATES
With Makgopa surprisingly missing the league game against the Urban Warriors, Riveiro has given a reason behind the striker’s absence.
“He [Makgopa] got a knock against Polokwane City; in the beginning, we thought it wasn’t going to be relevant, but he couldn’t make it to be in this game,” Riveiro said.
“It’s also a question mark for Saturday [against Kaizer Chiefs], so nobody was resting. The substitutions we made today were forced. Olisa Ndah was suspended, and Evidence was not able to be in this game.”
Pirates will lock horns against Kaizer Chiefs in the mouth-watering Soweto Derby clash at FNB Stadium on Saturday, 09 March. Kickoff is at 15:30.
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