Jose Riveiro: Patrick Maswanganyi’s best is yet to come

Speaking during the Nedbank Cup pressers in Johannesburg today, and reacting to Maswanganyi’s Bafana Bafana call-up, Riveiro refused to take the credit for the player’s transformation.

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Maswanganyi has been a key figure for The Buccaneers this season, having contributed directly to 12 goals (five goals and seven assists), and the Spaniard says consistency is going to be key for the 25-year-old.

 ''I'm happy for the boy, because it is easy to make it and to play for Pirates. It is not easy to do it in the way he does, hopefully he can continue to improve and be more consistent,'' said Riveiro.

Bafana head coach Hugo Broos was raving about Maswanganyi earlier this week, after watching him help Pirates overcome their archrivals Kaizer Chiefs in the Soweto derby this past weekend.

Riveiro says credit should also go to the Tembisa-born lad for pushing himself to his current level.

''I think it's the environment, players around him. Even the way we try to play I think he benefits from those things,'' added Riveiro.

This weekend, the Bucs will come up against another lower division side in the Motsepe Foundation Championship’s Hungry Lions in the Nedbank Cup last 16.

Riveiro says playing at Orlando Stadium with the momentum from the Soweto Derby is good for them.

''We know the story about these games, and we are preparing ourselves with a massive respect for the game, because we know it is not going to be an easy one,'' he concluded.

Pirates overcame two National First Division (NFD) teams on their way to winning this cup competition last season, which proved two tight games against All Stars and Venda Academy.

The coach says they are not taking things lightly going to this game.