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Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<ul><li>Pirates defeated Chippa 2-0</li><li>Mabasa scored a brace </li><li>Riveiro &amp; Mabasa react to win </li></ul><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

Jose Riveiro congratulates 'poor Orlando Pirates' in win against Chippa United as Tshegofatso Mabasa explains why Golden Boot 'is not on his mind'

Premier Soccer League

Orlando Pirates

SuperSport United

Chippa United

Sekhukhune United

Orlando Pirates <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-za/lists/red-hot-tshegofatso-mabasa-fires-orlando-pirates-closer-to-caf-champions-league-spot-after-chippa-united-win/bltcf201917754f998b" target="_blank">collected maximum points against Chippa United</a> in a Premier Soccer League game staged at the Orlando Stadium on Wednesday night.Tshegofatso Mabasa scored a brace to help the Sea Robbers move within a point of the Caf Champions League spot. They are on 49 points, one less than Stellenbosch who were held to a goalless draw by AmaZulu.

What happened?

Patrick Maswanganyi is currently the fans' favourite owing to his style of play and delivery. He has five goals and four assists in the PSL in his debut campaign at Bucs, and coach Jose Riveiro has welcomed the praise from supporters."As long as they continue singing because they are performing well, I’m happy, I’m alright," the Spaniard told the media. "As I said many times, the fans identify the players that they like, the players who are [bringing] them to the stadiums. The players they like to see on the ball and right now we have many of those players in a good moment, in good form and our fans are absolutely happy with them."If they want to sing names, if it’s because they are doing a good job, it’s a good thing, but everyone around needs support, that’s the most important, that we’re getting support as a team in recent weeks from our fans wherever we go," Riveiro continued."It’s motivation for fans to come to the stadium and motivation for our boys to try and perform at that level that people expect from them."

Riveiro encourages fans singing Tito's name

Tshegofatso Mabasa is now <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-za/lists/premier-soccer-league-top-scorers-2023-24-peter-shalulile-zakhele-lepasa-chibuike-ohizu-and-the-race-for-golden-boot/blt11d9afef3d5ec5d9#cs640537037c630275" target="_blank">leading the race for the Golden Boot</a>, having scored 15 goals, one more than Iqraam Rayners of Stellenbosch and three more than Mamelodi Sundowns star Lucas Ribeiro.However, the bulky forward is not carried away by the possibility of winning an individual award."[The Golden Boot] is not really on my mind, the important thing is for the team to get three points and that’s exactly what we did [on Wednesday]," the striker stated. "If it happens [that I win Golden Boot], it’s by the grace of God and I’ll be thankful for that. Obviously, it will mean a lot. As a striker that’s what you look to do, you look to score goals and if they’re coming the way they are right now, I’m very glad and I’m very happy."

Golden Boot 'not on Mabasa's mind'

The 46-year-old commented on why he was unhappy with his side's display but was delighted that Bucs got three points. "Like I said to the guys, it's very important that even though it wasn't maybe the best game in the last two months, we got the result that we were looking for, that's something to celebrate," he said."Maybe this game four months ago, we wouldn't have finished it with three points. Probably it would've ended 1-1 but now at this moment, we are in a good space even on days like today, where we weren't excellent. I think we weren't good enough, we're getting the results."I am so happy with the fact that on a not-so-excellent day, we managed to get a 2-0 win. My obligation is to always demand their best in every game but I understand that we've been on a crazy run and it's normal that they feel fatigued sometimes because they're humans and today was difficult."

Riveiro faults 'poor game on fatigue'

Bucs are aiming at collecting maximum points in the remaining three league games and hope Stellenbosch drop theirs to stand a chance of playing in the Caf Champions League next season.Then their main attention will be on the <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-za/lists/2023-24-nedbank-cup-fixtures-venues-results-how-to-watch/bltc8565de2b61226dd" target="_blank">Nedbank Cup where they will play Mamelodi Sundowns</a> in the final.

What's next?

Jose Riveiro congratulates 'poor Orlando Pirates' in win against Chippa United as Tshegofatso Mabasa explains why Golden Boot 'is not on his mind' | Goal.com

Jose Riveiro and Tshegofatso Mabasa react to Orlando Pirates&apos; 2-0 win over Chippa United in the Premier Soccer League.

Jose Riveiro congratulates &apos;poor Orlando Pirates&apos; in win against Chippa United as Tshegofatso Mabasa explains why Golden Boot &apos;is not on his mind&apos;

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