Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro admitted that he waited to unleash Monnapule Saleng in the Soweto Derby, with his decision rewarded by a two-goal performance from the winger.
The Buccaneers came from behind two times to earn a 3-2 win over Kaizer Chiefs at a sold-out FNB Stadium.
Saleng, who had registered a solitary league goal this campaign ahead of the Derby, scored on either half to help Bucs do the double over Chiefs.
Riveiro revealed that he had been planning to use Saleng in this match.
“And then we used the game against Crystal Lake to see other options, other players and when he was there he was good at being an option from the bench because he was ready to play.
In the end, I decided to do something different and keep Saleng ready to play this game the way that he did it,” said Riveiro.
Riveiro further spoke on the struggles faced by Saleng at the beginning of the 2023/24 season.
“He didn’t have the best first half of the season for multiple reasons again that we cannot discuss in this space. In the AFCON break I think he did a very good job during the second preseason that we had, in the training matches.
“When the PSL resumed after the AFCON last month, Saleng’s progress got derailed by an illness and forced him to sit out the two matches against Polokwane City as well as Cape Town Spurs, Riveiro added.
The Spaniard also revealed that Saleng suffered from flue and had to be separated from the squad.
“He came in to play Sundowns in Pretoria, not a bad job and then we couldn’t continue with him for something simple like a flue that separated him when we travelled to Polokwane,” Riveiro noted.
