Jose Riveiro’s methodology of monitoring young talent in Bucs’ structures

Midway his first season at Pirates, Riveiro monitored a couple of players from the club’s reserve side, some came to train with the team and others also got a run and even sat on the bench. But it was the promotion of Bafana Bafana sensation Relebohile Mofokeng that got everyone’s attention and since then, there’s been a lot of focus on the kind of players that Pirates gets to promote.

READ: Sundowns midfielder Sphelele Mkhulise wary of improving AmaZulu

Mofokeng has played over 60 matches in all competitions scoring at least 10 goals, since he was promoted in the 2022/2023 season at the age of 18, and he has featured in all 10 matches in the tough CAF Champions League during this period. In 2024, he has managed to break into Bafana head coach Hugo Broos’ squad.

This season, Riveiro has introduced attacker Mohau Nkota (20) and he has made an immediate mark, scoring four goals both in the Betway Premiership and CAF Champions League, including the famous brace against CR Belouizdad in the opening group stages game.

Riveiro, a former youth coach at Spanish La Liga side Celta Vigo, knows too well about the best practice of working with youthful talent and he’s got certain  ways of monitoring talent and follows up on their progress.

“It’s a combination of all those things together, you have the opportunity to monitor them during the season and watch their games on TV many times.

“You have the opportunity to meet the coaches and also to invite the young players to our training sessions and see them live, in our eco-system with our players.

“It’s about having the will to do it, but the opportunities are there for all of us as coaches”, revealed Riveiro on how he’s monitoring Bucs’ young talent.

Prior to this past weekend’s Carling Cup matches where Mofokeng starred for the All Stars XI against Magesi FC, his influence in the younger players from the rival clubs was evident. Mamelodi Sundowns’ junior international Gomolemo Kekana made it known that Mofokeng, a product of the School of Excellence was the player he looks up to.

“It’s normal that the young players are looking at the nearer of other young players who are making an impact already. It doesn’t mean that they are role models as well.

“It doesn’t mean that they are a role model for them, I think it’s more like a mirror, to say if this boy can do it, with my talent, I can do it as well and have an opportunity. 

“So it’s nice to be inspired by young talent like Rele in this case, and it’s an opportunity to understand that age is not the problem”, said Riveiro.