‘We don’t give him his flowers’: Jose Riveiro on unsung Orlando Pirates star

Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro insists there’s an unsung hero in his ranks, a player whose remarkable abilities deserve far more recognition.

Riveiro shared his thoughts on the unsung hero during a post-match interview with SuperSport TV following his team’s tense 3-1 victory over Chippa United at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

The victory saw the Buccaneers book a place in the Nedbank Cup final to be hosted at the Mbombela Stadium. The final, Pirates’ fourth in two seasons, will be played on June 1, 2024.

Pirates await to see who their opponent will be when Mamelodi Sundowns and Stellenbosch FC clash on Sunday. 

Riveiro praised his team’s character and resilience after the hard-fought win.

“They [Chippa United] did a good job to find themselves in a game like this. And obviously, they’re going to do everything to be in the final,” Riveiro acknowledged.

Despite the challenge, Riveiro highlighted his team’s adaptability. “It’s a good team, good players, but I think again that today we show good character. We show that we can play football but we can also compete when the game is getting rough and is getting physical. So that’s very good news for us.”

The coach emphasised the importance of this experience for his developing squad. “To be honest, this is a learning process for most of our players right now. We’re playing with many players who are playing these types of games for the first time. Maybe last season we had a little bit more experience in every line, but we are learning. We’re really enjoying playing football with them.”

JOSE RIVEIRO LAUDS UNSUNG HERO IN ORLANDO PIRATES REVIVAL 

Riveiro has heaped praise on midfielder Kabelo Dlamini, a player he believes doesn’t get the recognition he deserves amidst the team’s recent resurgence. Dlamini struck twice on Saturday with the other goal coming from Tapelo Xoki. 

The Bucs midfielder has been instrumental in the Buccaneers’ attack. The 27-year-old has racked up an impressive seven-goal contributions [5 goals and 2 assists] in the last six matches.

“I think KB is an excellent football player. He understands football very well, and he has the quality to execute it,” Riveiro admitted when asked about Dlamini.

“But sometimes we don’t give him the flowers that he deserved, [he] is sometimes in the shadow.

“But his contribution to this team in the last two seasons at least, it’s been excellent.

“And I think he didn’t touch [reach] his best capacity, he is going to still improve.”

The Spanish coach has been particularly impressed by the midfielder’s tactical understanding and intelligence on the pitch. 

Dlamini’s contributions have been key in the recent upswing in form for Pirates. His ability to read the game, link play in attack, and directly contribute to goals has added a new dimension to the Pirates’ offence.

While stars like Patrick ‘Tito’ Maswanganyi and Relebohile Mofokeng often grab the headlines, Riveiro is keen to point out that Dlamini’s work behind the scenes is just as critical to the team’s success. 

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