The departure of Stellenbosch midfielder Sibongiseni Mthethwa to Kaizer Chiefs ahead of the MTN8 semi-final second-leg could give Orlando Pirates a significant advantage, although head coach Jose Riveiro played it down.
Mthethwa was officially announced by Amakhosi on Thursday in a permanent transfer from Stellies, although the Cape Winelands side had confirmed a day earlier that the industrious midfielder was leaving the club.
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The Buccaneers earned the advantage of two away goals in their 2-1 win over Steve Barker’s charges, who played the entire second-half with 10 men in the first-leg and the absence of Mthethwa for Stellies could give them more advantages to reach the final.
The midfielder known as the “Ox” was apparently chosen to be the Man of the Match in their loss against Pirates in the first-leg but the decision was changed late on as the award was instead given to Patrick Maswanganyi after he assisted a late winner for the Buccaneers, getting two assists in the process, according to Barker after that match.
Pirates coach Riveiro conceded that they know the qualities of Mthethwa but believes there is already someone who will be looking to prove that he can fill his shoes.
“Nothing is gonna change for us, we know Mthethwa and what he’s capable to do but for sure there’s gonna be somebody who’s gonna try to prove that he has the level to play in that position, play for Stellenbosch and be the next Mthethwa and go somewhere else,” Riveiro said in a press conference.
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“We all have replacements, so they are gonna play with eleven players. For us in terms of approach it’s gonna be the same,” he said.
Stellies have lost four matches in their last five games in all competitions and the Spanish tactician continued and suggested, however, that the transfer rumours could be the reason the Maroons are struggling.
Mthethwa was for a long-time also linked to Pirates.
“Them if they are suffering, I think the moment of Stellenbosch is somehow logical in my opinion, it’s related with the rumours and window transfers, possibility to sign players, even though we’re in the seventh fixture of the league and stuff like that, so it can happen,” he added.
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