Individual awards benefit the club - Riveiro

Saleng is now on 12 goals in all competitions and has provided five assists this season. The Bafana Bafana attacker is a strong contender for the award, which takes into account performances in all competitions.

"If one of my players gets a trophy, I'm so happy for him, because it means that the team benefits from that individual's contribution. We need that as well. Our job is to help them to play good football together, which is not that easy. 

We probably have many names of teams with a lot of talent that they don't manage to play well. That's the difficulty of the task. But it's good for the player because it's going to be good for [his] future, and I hope the one you mention can fight with any other player in our squad for that prize because it's going to be a good thing for Pirates and that's what matters", he said. 

The 24-year-old from Bloemhof in North West will have to fight off stiff competition from the likes of Ronwen Williams, Cassius Maiula, Teboho Mokoena, all from Mamelodi Sundowns. And possibly another Brazilian, Peter Shalulie, who won the same award in the last two seasons.

Although Riveiro recognises and accepts its significance for the players and the sport, he is still not a fan of individual accolades. 

"Personally I really see this game as a collective. Even if I get a trophy it's not for me it's for the team, it's for the coaching staff we're working together. Individual awards in football, I understand the meaning and I understand it's attractive". 

Meanwhile, ‹‹Despite the convincing win over Swallows, Riveiro stressed the team was not under any pressure to bounce back from last week's defeat to Kaizer Chiefs in the Soweto derby.