With Pirates advancing to the quarter-finals of the 2024 Nedbank Cup after beating Hungry Lions 4-0 in the last 16 over the past weekend, Riveiro praised Mabasa who scored a second-half brace in that encounter alluding that he is more just a number nine with goalscoring qualities.

He is a player that needs to help us to play better, to play the football that we want to play, to be in contact with the ball, to dominate the central line of the field, to create the spaces for our three number 10s because when they are on the field, they have a very difficult work to do," Riveiro said.

With the likes of Evidence Makgopa also in good form for the Buccaneers, the Spanish tactician has also hailed the healthy competition within his team adding that the club can only grow to greater heights from here onwards.

The Sea Robbers will know their fate in the Nedbank Cup on Monday evening as the draw for the quarter-finals will take place in Johannesburg.