NEWS: Coach Jose Riveiro delighted by Orlando Pirates’ goalscoring machine Tshegofatso Mabasa

The 27-year-old forward is leading the DStv Premiership scoring charts alongside Lucas Ribeiro of Mamelodi Sundowns in the race for the Lesley Manyathela Golden Boot award with 11 goals each.

Mabasa scored the decisive goal for Pirates on Saturday in their dramatic victory over AmaZulu at Orlando Stadium.

After the match, a delighted Riveiro hailed the importance of the former Bloemfontein Celtic player for the Buccaneers.

“He has scored many times for us, he is one more piece in our structure and an important one right now,” Riveiro said post-match.

“I’m happy when the forwards are delivering goals, but especially getting the responsibility in the last meters.

“He is constantly offering us the options for other players that are playing around him to be aggressive in our pressing for the defenders when we don’t have the ball.

“So, he is contributing to the role that he is assigned to the number nine position and so far he is doing well.”

Riveiro added that a healthy competition for places is what is pushing Mabasa to maintain his excellent form on the field.

“But he is also doing well because of the ones who are behind him who are not playing recently,” Riveiro added.

“They are training very well, they put pressure, they want to be there as well but in the end, only one player can go in the field.

“But this is a team everyone is working to make it possible and the ones who are going to the field have our support and he is not an exception,” the Orlando Pirates mentor concluded.

The Soweto giants next travel to the Harry Gwala Stadium on Sunday to face Royal AM in a DStv Premiership encounter.

Kick-off is at 15:00.