Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro has disclosed two significant outcomes that striker Evidence Makgopa returned with following his participation in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) representing South Africa.
Makgopa was a member of Hugo Broos’ squad that achieved a bronze medal by triumphing in the third-place playoff against the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Throughout the tournament, he appeared in seven matches and scored during Bafana's 2-0 win over Morocco in the Round of 16.
Riveiro believes Makgopa’s impressive displays at AFCON enhanced his maturity and self-assurance. He notes that the 25-year-old forward returned as a markedly transformed player.
HOW AFCON IMPROVED PIRATES STRIKER EVIDENCE MAKGOPA
“It's important and the right opportunity to play those games. The responsibility of playing for your country, if you like it or not, will accelerate the process to get you to perform in those types of games,” said Riveiro.
“One clear example is Evidence Makgopa. I think the opportunity changed everything.
“His performance in the Afcon and the player we got after that is a different one in terms of maturity and self confidence.
“So I am glad to see more names in the Bafana Bafana list and hopefully in the future that experience will help us and as a team we will get better.
“That's why we need to have more players in Bafana Bafana so they we have more players with African experience which will be good for us playing in the Champions League.”
Makgopa also received the call-up in the recent preliminary squad for the upcoming AFCON qualifiers against Uganda and South Sudan.
Ezimnyama have a handful of players in the Bafana squad Sipho Chaine, Thabiso Monyane, Nkosinathi Sibisi, Relebogile Mofokeng, Patrick Maswanganyi, and Talenthe Mbatha.
