Orlando Pirates’ head coach, Jose Riveiro, has praised the resilience shown by goalkeeper Sipho Chaine during the tense moments of the penalty shootout following his stellar display against SuperSport United in the Nedbank Cup quarterfinal triumph at Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday.
The 28-year-old goalkeeper, who initially made a mistake that allowed Matsatsantsa to equalize in the first half, stepped up during the shootout by saving penalties from Vincent Pule and Christian Saile, effectively ensuring the Buccaneers’ advance to the semifinals of the Nedbank Cup.
Chaine was instrumental in Pirates’ success last season, having saved three consecutive penalties against Mamelodi Sundowns in the MTN8 final and denying Lucas Ribeiro from scoring a penalty in the first half of the Nedbank Cup final against the same opposition – a match the Bucs eventually won.
In light of his recent exceptional performance, Riveiro acknowledged the Bafana international and the entire goalkeeping department for their vital contributions as they strive to clinch the Nedbank Cup title for the third consecutive year.
“In a penalty shootout, it’s his responsibility; he needs to be positioned in the goal and aim to save at least one more penalty than the opponent. He’s been performing excellently in such penalty situations,” he stated.
“And today [Saturday], he once more excelled, benefitting from the support of the analysis team, the goalkeeper coach, and everyone who contributed to assist him in making sound decisions.”
Discussing their advancement to the semifinals via penalties, the Spanish coach candidly acknowledged the difficulties posed by the Tshwane side, especially on a pitch that suits their playing style, such as the surface at Old Peter Mokaba.
“Facing them is always a challenge; every match presents a puzzle given the quality of their players. As I mentioned before the match, they can score in various scenarios, many of which are hard to defend collectively,” Riveiro remarked.
“On a pitch like this, it supports their attacking style. I believe we lost our shape in the closing moments.”
“We allowed players like Bradley [Grobler], [Vincent] Pule, and Christian [Saile] to operate near our box, and ultimately they capitalized. They are a strong team, and I wish them the best, but we will have to face them again.”
The defending champions will now await their next assignment in the semifinal stage, with the draw scheduled to take place after the match between Durban City and Marumo Gallants on Sunday. Meanwhile, the Pirates will turn their focus to the Betway Premiership as they gear up to meet Stellenbosch FC on Tuesday.
