Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro has made a big admission about Monnapule Saleng's form of last season, with the player appearing to be back to his sizzling best if the Man of the Match performance in the MTN8 is anything to go by.
Pirates needed extra time to see off a resilient SuperSport United in the quarter-finals of the MTN8, played in front of an electric crowd at Orlando Stadium on Saturday.
It was defender Olisa Ndah who started the show with a sleek finish that would have had left the Lionel Messi of this world green with envy, before Vincent Pule came back to haunt his former side with a header past Sipho Chaine.
This forced the game to extra time, where the Buccaneers' depth, experience and quality shone through as they saw off their opponents through Monnapule Saleng and Evidence Makgopa strikes.
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Saleng, who was involved in all three of his team's goals, was substituted off towards the end of the game to a resounding round of applause from spectators and went on to deservedly win the Man of the Match award.
The performance was reminiscent of Saleng's first season at Prates, in which he contributed a massive 15 goals and 11 assists in 30 appearances.
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— Sahil Ebrahim (@sahil_e_) August 3, 2024
Monnapule Saleng gives Pirates a well deserved lead in the opening minutes of extra time! Well worked ??
Straight from the training ground of Spain. ??????
Orlando Pirates 2-1 SuperSport United#MTN8… pic.twitter.com/oyO12CVQJX
The 26-year-old struggled to replicate that form in his second campaign, producing a return of five goals and five assists in 27 matches, with Riveiro citing off-field challenges as being behind the poor form.
However, speaking to journalists after the match on Saturday, the Spaniard said he hoped those challenges are now behind the tricky winger and provided insight into his improved demeanour this season.
"I wish," Riveiro responded when asked if Saleng was over last season's challenges.
"If I compare this pre-season with the past pre-season, he's in a better space, definitely. His performances in Spain were really good.
"Today, he showed what he's capable of doing. He's surrounded by good players at the same time, doing a lot of things for him.
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"I think today he had a really good night, he was a permanent threat for the opponent. He was really happy now after the match and I'm sure it's going to help him to go for a good season one more time.
"We missed him a little bit in some moments last season, so we are all happy to see this type of performance again. I think it's been a long time since he was Man of the Match."
Last season's league runners-up now turn their attention to the CAF Champions League, where they will be away to CNaPS Sport in the first leg of the preliminary round, on August 18.