Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro was delighted to give game-time to three Buccaneers players during their Nedbank Cup win over Baroka FC.
The defending champions advanced to the quarter-finals with a 3-1 victory at Orlando Stadium on Saturday evening.
The Spanish tactician was able to give some valuable minutes to Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo, Karim Kimvuidi and Innocent Maela.
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"Obviously you have time to prepare a little bit more, we tried also in the last part of the game to refresh some of our players, we have two more games soon, we have Arrows, Cape Town City as well," the Spanish coach went on.
"We need more of our players coming to the party, they did well the ones that came from the bench, we need to believe that they are ready and ready to perform. In that sense it was a good day for us.
"It's not easy coming from a long period of absence, not being on the field, it takes time for them to get used to it again. So happy for Phillip (Ndlondlo), happy for Karim, Innocent, so overall it's a good day for Pirates."
Pirates extended their unbeaten in the Nedbank Cup under Riveiro to 12 encounters.
"I don't speak about individuals, so I'm not going to do it about myself, a team that's winning is Pirates, a team breaking records is not the coach," he added.
"So we're together doing our best, to try to help the team improve our history together."
