Jose Riveiro has hinted that more of the club’s Dstv Diski Challenge players could be in line for promotion to the senior team following the success of Relebohile Mofokeng.
The 19-year-old has been a revelation for The Buccaneers since making his debut last season. In only his second campaign in the senior team, Mofokeng has contributed three goals and four assists in 28 appearances.
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Speaking at the Nedbank Cup press conference ahead of the quarter-final clash with AmaZulu FC, the Spanish mentor indicated that more opportunities will be given to young players down the pipeline.
"When we give opportunities, it’s not just like an opportunity, it’s trusting. We need to trust that it’s the right call because it’s easy to play young players for 10 minutes when you’re leading and then they’re in the record books,” Riveiro said.
"In the end, you can say you are giving opportunities to the youngsters, but when Rele (Mofokeng) came into the team, he came straight into the starting XI. He played against Royal AM, one year ago. Straight into the XI, [he played] 80, 90 minutes."
Riveiro, though, admitted the youngster could improve his numbers, but emphasised that the same goes for all the players in the squad as they generally look for collective success rather than pinning hopes on individuals.
"We considered him prepared. It’s not only about talent, but it’s also not him being 100% ready. There will never be a moment with a youngster that you see it’s now, now he’s 100%. There’s no 100% in football and even less with young players.
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"So, you have to accept also the mistakes, or the lack of whatever with these types of profiles.
"But he was doing well since he started, is proving that it was a good decision from the club to put our hopes in Rele, and day by day, he’s showing it’s the reality right now. And he’s not going to be the last one, that’s for sure.
"He’s an inspiration for the other boys in the DDC because we as a club, as a technical team, and players in the team, we’re not going to be the obstacle for them in their progression.
"It’s about them to want it, to really want it, to have the platform to play. It’s going to be there for them."
Pirates' match against Usuthu is at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday, with kick-off at 18:00.
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