Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro expressed his delight after midfielder Kabelo Dlamini was named man-of-the-match, following the Buccaneers’ narrow 1-0 win.
The win secured Pirates a place in the final of the Nedbank Cup.
Dlamini scored the only goal of the match, putting in a solid performance that helped Pirates seal a third consecutive appearance in the Ke Yona Cup final.
Riveiro praised the often-underrated midfielder for his dedication and crucial role in the squad.
“You have to appreciate his commitment because, like you said, he was not involved recently due to illness, but he managed to give us a good 60 minutes,” Riveiro told SuperSport after the match. “I’m happy for him because finally, he was chosen as man-of-the-match.”
The coach went on to highlight Dlamini’s value to the team, despite not always grabbing headlines.
“I think it’s the first time since I’ve been here that he’s received this kind of recognition, even though he’s consistently delivered good performances. He’s one of those players who might seem invisible to the public, but he makes a really important contribution to how we play.”
The Buccaneers will now set their sights on lifting the Nedbank Cup for the third time in a row, matching their success in the MTN8 Cup.