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Riveiro defends Pirates’ Makgopa against fan backlash
'I think for a 23 year-old guy like Evidence, playing his first games for Pirates, it is important to feel that we support him," said the Pirates head coach.
Evidence Makgopa has had to deal with some criticism of late from Pirates fans. Picture: Backpagepix.
Orlando Pirates’ poor results in their recent league matches has seen the club’s fans resort to showing their unhappiness with striker Evidence Makgopa’s performances.
Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro, however, has pleaded with them to show support to the player instead of bashing him, going into their next game against Cape Town Spurs at Cape Town Stadium on Wednesday.
The Buccaneers continued with their poor run of form in the DStv Premiership when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Polokwane City at Orlando Stadium.
During the Rise and Shine tie, there were moments when Bucs fans were calling for Makgopa to be substituted. But Riveiro believes the striker worked very hard during that game, and a young player like him needs to be supported to perform at his level best.
“I think for a 23 year-old guy like Evidence playing his first games for Pirates it is important to feel that we support him. When I say we, I mean all of us, coaching staff, his teammates, fans. So, it goes without saying if the atmosphere is proper, it’s going to be easier for the guys,” said the Bucs coach.
“We are playing with a lot of young guys nowadays, probably you noticed also with our starting eleven. It’s important we take care of them ( young players), to protect them because we all get the benefit of that. Whoever is in the number nine position, it is because we trust him. It’s going to be much easier for him to score goals and play good passes (when Makgopa gets support).”
Struggling Warriors
The Buccaneers travel to the Cape to face a struggling Urban Warriors side who are desperate to turn their fortunes around following an dreadful start to their return to top- light football.
Spurs have lost all of their opening eight games of the campaign, putting them at the bottom of the table.
This will be a second meeting between Spurs and Pirates this season, with the teams having clashed in the first round of the Carling Black Label Knockout. The Sea Robbers won that game 2-0 thanks to goals from Tapelo Xoki and Kermit Erasmus.
