Hotto’s Versatility Key as Pirates chase MTN8 immortality

Orlando Pirates recently won back-to-back cup doubles – two MTN8s and Nedbank Cups – as coach Jose’ Riveiro endeared himself to the Ghost as a cup specialist.

The Spaniard could further re-write the history books tonight (6pm kick-off) by becoming the first coach to win a ‘three-peat’ in the coveted Wafa Wafa cup.

However, that won’t come on a silver-platter as they’ll have to get past a plucky Stellenbosch FC side who’ve been on an upward trajectory recently.

Riveiro will not enter the sold-out Moses Mabhida Stadium blindfolded, though. He has some trusted personnel at his disposal with the likes of Deon Hotto, who has become one of Riveiro’s go-to-men.

The 33-year-old has been ageing like fine wine, growing in leaps and bounds since joining the club from the defunct Bidvest Wits in 2020.

Hotto has contributed to all five trophies Pirates have won in the last five seasons, and their back-to-back second place finishes in the Premiership in the last two seasons.

The Namibian was crowned the MTN8 Last Man Standing in 2020, and he’s been so good for Riveiro recently that he’s been dubbed as ‘Mr Consistency’ by the Ghost.

The former Bloemfontein Celtic man doesn’t mind being an all rounder for Riveiro who’s mostly used him as a left-back, instead of his natural position.

“I am not going to say I am not happy or angry. I am here to work – I don’t have a contract that says ‘Hotto, you are playing as a left winger, and that’s it’,” he said regarding his versatility.

“If the coach asks me on a particular day to play as a right winger or back, I will just honour it and try to do my level best. Sometimes, it’s about analysing the opponent as well.”

Hotto is expected to slot in at the left wing-back position against Stellies tonight, setting up a great match-up with right-back Thabo Maloisane.

He is expected to win the duel. After all, he’s been Pirates’ best player against Stellies having scored four goals against the Winelands-based outfit.

“It motivates me, it shows that I am doing something great for the club,” he said of his importance for Riveiro.

“He keeps motivating me, and as a player you want to play every single game as long as you are injury free. As long as I am adding value to the club, I am okay.

“Playing for a club like Pirates is always a privilege because it’s a team that fights for trophies every season.

“The chemistry around the team is to fight for any cup that’s in front of us. So that’s just the mindset that’s around the club.”

Given the wide range of expectations from the Ghost for Pirates to win the match, one would bet on the team to quake on their boots. But they are not.

“I don’t think there’s pressure – the only thing we just have to do is to wait for the match and get our minds focused on the game itself. It’s not about pressure,” Hotto said.

“There’ll be pressure – always. The only thing that we need to do is get our mindset right. And yeah, everything will fall into place.”

Stellies, albeit being familiar with Moses Mabhida, know that they’ll be underdogs for the match as Pirates will have the 12th man on their side.

But according to Stellies’ goalkeeper Sage Stephens they’ve got a trick up their sleeve of how they’ll be able to work against the Ghost who’ll be most dominant on the stands.

“With the sold-out event, there’s going to be nerves no matter what you do. I just think we just need to, like our coach said, once their fans get going, we need to use that against them,” he said.

“We need to start putting in the grind. We want their fans to be on their backs more, because that means we are then doing a better job.”