Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro has explained his decision to bring in Richard Ofori for the penalty shootout against Jwaneng Galaxy on Friday evening.
The Spaniard introduced Pirates’ second-choice shot-stopper Richard Ofori into the fray in the dying minutes of the CAF Champions League preliminary game at Orlando Stadium.
Pirates lost 5-4 on penalties after Relebohile Mofokeng missed the only spot-kick during the shootout, while Ofori failed to pull off a save.
The win saw South Africa-born coach Morena Ramoreboli and his Galaxy troop seal a spot in the Champions League group stages.
Ramoreboli defied the odds over two-legs: that’s 180 minutes of football against a top team in Pirates. The game ended 1-1 on aggregate as Pirates sealed victory in the return leg, having suffered a 1-0 defeat against Galaxy two weeks ago.
And despite Ofori not having a track record of saving penalties, Jose Riveiro described the Ghanaian as a ‘specialist’ in that department as he replaced Sipho Chaine in the Galaxy clash.
“I’m sure that you can answer that question yourself why Richard came to the game in the minute that he came,” said a dejected Riveiro.
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‘OFORI IS A SPECIALIST ON PENALTIES’
“He came in because he is a specialist in the penalties, and that’s why. Unfortunately, he couldn’t save any of the five, and that’s why Jwaneng is in the next round, and we are not.
“But the reason why Richards came to the field is obviously. It doesn’t mean that we don’t trust Sipho but we felt that in the current circumstances, Richards could give us an extra in that moment of the game.
“He did his best and he was close to saving the second penalty, and the situation could have been different. You have to play your cards as a coach in different moments of the game, and I’m proud of the guys during the game and the penalty round.”