Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro has given his verdict on midfielder Azola Matrose who has barely played this season due to injury.
The rising winger, Azola Matrose, who rose through the ranks at Orlando Pirates has only made three appearances in the DStv Premiership.
Last year, the 21-year-old underwent surgery twice, hindering progress in his budding career. He had suffered a serious fibula injury.
However, in February, the Soweto giants revealed that Matrose had fully recovered after the long lay-off. He has since played a few games in the club’s DStv Diski Challenge [DDC] side.
RIVEIRO’S VERDICT ON AZOLA MATROSE
And coach Riveiro has shed more light on the progress made by the former Chippa United midfielder.
“Azola is working so hard. Since we started the season, he came back to the club with a difficult injury and it’s been a long period for him to play at his level,” he said. “But now he is back in a good space. He is making big steps forward. He is close to his best level in my opinion.
“He is competing very well in training and he is getting more mature. I’m sure it’s not long that we can see him playing for us again.”
Meanwhile, the Spaniard is hoping and praying his men click the right gears when they take Matrose’s ex-team Chippa in the Nedbank Cup semi-finals on Saturday.
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“We know what it means to win games in the cup competitions. It’s even more difficult because there is no room for that [error].
“We accept each and every role that you want to give us because it’s normal, but we really know how difficult the game is going to be.
“The players know and with respect we have for the competition, the opponent, we are going to find a way to be the best version of ourselves. When we are not in that space, anything is possible.
“So we are not thinking from which position we are starting the game. It’s going be a really complex game from physical to tactical, and we are going to be prepared. We want to be close to our best version because that could give us the best result,” he added.
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