Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro may be considering a tactical adjustment ahead of the CAF Champions League quarter-finals, according to former club midfielder Njabulo Manqana.
Riveiro, who usually deploys a lone striker, made a notable change in Saturday's 2-1 victory over Cape Town City by playing both Tshegofatso Mabasa and Evidence Makgopa together in attack.
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The Buccaneers initially lined up in a 4-3-3 formation, with Mabasa leading the line while Relebohile Mofokeng and Bandile Shandu operated from the flanks.
However, with the score level at 1-1, Riveiro introduced Makgopa in the 75th minute, a decision that helped Pirates secure a late winner through Goodman Mosele.
After the match, Riveiro praised Makgopa's impact, highlighting his ability to assist Mabasa by keeping opposition defenders occupied in crucial moments.
This shift in approach has sparked speculation that Riveiro is testing a two-striker system in preparation for their Champions League quarter-final clash against MC Alger in April.
Manqana believes that such tactical flexibility could be key for Pirates as they navigate the challenges of continental competition.
With a tough trip to Algeria ahead, the Buccaneers may need all the attacking firepower they can assemble to progress further in the tournament.
"I think that was the coach trying a different formation to prepare for the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Some of the teams in that competition prefer to go all out in their attack, and I think that's what the coach will be aiming to do as well for the upcoming matches. I don't think he did that just for the sake of doing it, there must have been something he was trying to prepare for the challenge ahead in the upcoming games," said Manqana, speaking exclusively to the Siya crew.
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"Having said that, it was good to see Pirates playing with two strikers for a change, and I think that formation can work wonders for the team going forward. I am certain that playing with two strikers can help the team to create more chances going forward," said Manqana.
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