Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro has highlighted Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Samkelo Zwane as being crucial in All Stars XI's 3-0 win over Magesi in the Carling Cup final.
Zwane scored one goal and assisted another of the two goals scored by Chiefs DStv Diski Challenge striker Naledi Hlongwane, all in the first stanza, playing as a number ten.
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However, Riveiro hailed the Amakhosi midfielder more for his second half performance, where he was shifted back to play as a six, alongside Mamelodi Sundowns Diski Challenge midfielder Gomolemo Kekana, where the Pirates coach was impressed with how he helped All Stars managed the game in ball retention and circulation.
The Spanish coach also hinted that under his guidance on the day, the 22-year-old "did not make mistakes", something that has somewhat slightly blemished his game of late at Chiefs.
Zwane lost his place in the Amakhosi line-up after his error of a stylish back heel cost The Glamour Boys a penalty against Sundowns in the Carling Knockout quarter-finals, where they went on to lose 4-0.
"To be honest I think Zwane, Kekana, [Bathusi] Aubaas, the three of them, they gave us a different level in the middle of the park, there was a space where the game was dictated, where they started to make a difference, to finally find this boy (Hlongwane) and Rele [Mofokeng] and Ashley [Du Preez] in the first-half, in good positions," Riveiro said in the post-match press conference after the victory.
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"Also in the secondhalf, pairing with Kekana, Zwane did a good job to give us more control of the second half, not really making mistakes in possession, really generous also to help our centre-backs in some moments of the game, in the second-half when Magesi started to accumulate more players in the forward line.
"So I think the middle of the team was crucial to dominate the second half possession and gave us enough speed in the circulation in the last 45 minutes," the Spanish coach added.
'Mangethe' came off the bench in four consecutive games for Chiefs after his mistake against Sundowns and was an unused substitute in a 1-1 draw against TS Galaxy.