Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro has explained his decision to substitute Makhehleni Makhaula for Goodman Mosele when trailing 1-0 against Cape Town City FC in a Betway Premiership tie at Orlando Stadium on Saturday.
The veteran midfielder Makhaula was substituted despite playing well, and his replacement, Mosele, got the winning goal.
The Buccaneers’ defence was breached early in the first half, and their search for maximum points only yielded results at the end of the game. Tshegofatso Mabasa scored the equaliser in the second half as the Bucs sought to keep pace with log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns.
Masandawana, winners of seven successive league titles, have amassed 48 points from 18 games. On the other hand, Pirates have 36 with two games in hand over their rivals.
WHY RIVEIRO SUBSTITUTED MAKHAULA
The Spaniard said he felt the game needed a different profile of midfielder at that moment. “We needed a different type of midfielder at that moment of the game,” Riveiro told SuperSport TV. “That was a situation that we tried to get benefit with our midfielders because of the way they were defending in one of the sides.
“Mosele is a different profile than Cash [Makhaula]. We had Makhaula in the first 45 minutes, and Mosele completed the game.”
The Pirates mentor said they knew it would always be a tough encounter.
“The teams are used to competing in a special way when they come here in front of big crowds and in front of Orlando Pirates.
“We knew it; Cape Town City is one of those teams who run the extra mile against us. It’s fine, [we won] three points.”
Pirates visit Marumo Gallants in their next Betway Premiership encounter set for the Free State Stadium on Saturday.
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