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Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro is raving about the confidence levels of the club and Bafana Bafana striker Evidence Makgopa, who is fresh from a successful 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament in Côte d’Ivoire.
Makgopa started all the seven Bafana Bafana matches at the AFCON, scored a goal, and also provided an assist, as Hugo Broos’ team ended a 24-year wait for semifinal qualification in this tournament.
Going to this tournament, very few people gave Makgopa the chance to make headlines at the AFCON and Riveiro says he's answered his critics.
''That's the key to confidence. It was not easy for the boy - he had gone through a very difficult period when he started with us.’’
“The feedback he got from the fans was not fair - but he managed to navigate it, to motivate himself from that situation and show his capacity,'' said Riveiro.
Riveiro says Makgopa’s performances at the AFCON, where he led the line for Bafana Bafana upfront in the absence of Lyle Foster and Lebo Mothiba, there can be no doubt about the 23 year-old’s potential.
''And after his performance at AFCON, I think no one has doubts about his potential now, but he's 23 - making his first steps in a big club like Pirates and he needs to show that he can perform even much better,'' he concluded.
The Spanish-born coach says with the level of competition that faces Makgopa, there will be no time for him to relax, and will use his confidence to raise the bar.
Bucs turn their focus this weekend to start the defense of their Nedbank Cup title against Mpumalanga amateur side Crystal Lake.
They meet at the Mbombela stadium on Saturday afternoon and Riveiro knows that these are not easy games to prepare for, as he recalls their run in the same competition last season.
