Nkota lauds Pirates legend after his brace & opens up on Mofokeng combo as 'unhappy' Riveiro opens up on fixture struggles and poor defending

Orlando Pirates made it five wins in a row in the Premier Soccer League on Friday night with a 2-1 win over AmaZulu.

Mohau Nkota scored a brace with Relebohile Mofokeng creating the two assists, while Usuthu got their strike through Pule Ekstein.

The 19-year-old was delighted with the impact he made after being trusted with a start. He went on to open up about how the club's legend Joseph ‘Duku Duku' Makhanya shaped him.

"I’d like to say thank you to coach Duku Duku for the advice that he has given me and thank you for everything that he’s done for me.

"Also to Mxoliso, who is the manager of the DDC [team], thank you for everything he has done for us. I thank coach Jose Riveiro for giving me this opportunity. Thanks for everything he has done to help.

"It’s been an opportunity for me, it’s been a long time for me, so I have to process and unpack everything. Thank you to all of them."

On another day, Nkota could have easily scored four goals, all from Relebohile Mofokeng's assists. The duo's understanding was too much for AmaZulu and the former has since explained the chemistry.

"Playing with Rele, it is our combination. Both of us [are] youngsters, it is in the blood."

Usuthu could have stolen a point from the Soweto giants late into the match, but goalkeeper Sipho Chaine made a crucial save to deny them. Coach Jose Riveiro was left unhappy with how events had unfolded at the Orlando Stadium in a match his team dominated.

"Well played in most moments of the 90 minutes, difficult in the beginning until we managed to unlock a little bit of their defensive plan. An excellent goal and after that, everything is easy to play," he stated.

"But I am not happy with not capitalising on the opportunities of the second half.

We should have put the game to sleep nice and early in the second half, but you see what happens in football?"

In the 3-2 loss against Magesi, Thabiso Sesane scored an own goal and conceded a costly penalty. On Friday, he was at fault for AmaZulu's goal after giving away possession in the danger zone.

"We didn't defend well after the goal because we were leading 2-0; it can't happen.

A little bit of uncertainty in the last corner but it is football, we have to play until the last whistle. 

"We were not in a situation in the second half to feel entitled to not finalize the action, to still be aggressive. But I think it was a good performance."

Bucs have played the most matches in the PSL by virtue of taking part in MTN8, Carling Knockout, Caf Champions League, and obviously the PSL.

"We are all struggling around the world with the schedule, with the calendar. We are exploring a new space as coaches, as a football club, and as players to make sure that we are healthy and ready to go," Riveiro admitted.

"Obviously, playing every three days doesn't help, not only so that the players can recover, but also, so that players can perform.

"We come to the field, the people around, the people at home don't necessarily know, they want to see good football.

"They want to see their favourite players always at their best and it is not easy. But considering the performance on Friday night, I think that we are doing a good job in that sense as a club," he concluded.

Winning five games in a row is a massive confidence booster for Orlando Pirates players, and it creates a feeling Mamelodi Sundowns will have it rough defending their crown.

However, coach Jose Riveiro has to come up with effective ways to ensure his team remains consistent throughout the season and delivers the elusive PSL title.