Head coach Jose Riveiro has offered some clarity on the position and instructions given to striker Evidence Makgopa during Orlando Pirates' victory against Sekhukhune United.
The Buccaneers returned to winning form with a 1-0 victory over Babina Noko at Orlando Stadium on Tuesday night.
Although he winning goal came from defender Thabiso Monyane, one of the major talking points was over the performance of striker Makgopa who led the attacking line in the absence of Zakhele Lepasa.
Section of Bucs supporters felt the striker was far too often abandoned his post.
Makgopa plays too deep for a striker
— ISHMAEL ?????????? (@mr_shimmy) November 4, 2023
I just wonder how many touches does Evidence Makgopa averages per game inside the box of the opponents.
— Rapelang Motloung. (@ZeroJr_12) November 7, 2023
READ | Riveiro urges Pirates stars to forget Soweto Derby
The 23-year-old received criticism for drifting out wide and often dropping deep into midfield.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Riveiro insisted that the former Baroka striker was simply simply following instructions.
"About Makgopa, it's true that he was he was doing a lot of movements to force [Daniel] Cardoso to go out of position in our right-hand side, but not with the intention to play to Evidence," Riveiro explained.
"It's about moving Cardoso out of position to create other options, but instead of denying the pass to Makgopa, we were playing too much to Evidence, so then it looks like Evidence is doing something wrong, do you follow me? do I did I express myself [correctly?].
"The intention was not to play to that movement, It was to remove Cardoso and attack with other options from second line and from the opposite side with Karim [Kimvuidi].
"But we ended up playing to that corner, I think we collect mostly throw ins. I remember one free kick and one corner from that movement of Makgopa.
"Makgopa is a player that likes to keep the distance with the center-backs, to link and collect and he's doing a good job in that sense for us but especially when we are facing these low blocks.
"It's important that we have more presence in the box, because suddenly we can create a cut back or one cross from the lateral corridors and we need the reference of the striker there as well.
"But what you mentioned before (Makgopa dropping too deep and drifting out wide), it was intentional from the game plan but not to feed that passes, we don't want to play passes to the to the corner flag we want to provoke something else.
"I'm not going to explain everything but yeah those are not areas where we want to find our striker."
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The win takes Pirates up to ninth place on the DStv Premiership log table after nine matches. The Sea Robbers meet rivals Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium on Saturday.
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