Head coach Jose Riveiro has shed some light on the struggles of Monnapule Saleng as the reigning DStv Premiership Player of the Season returned to score a brace against rivals Kaizer Chiefs.
Pirates walked away victorious in the five-goal thriller played at FNT Stadium on Saturday afternoon fierce rivals Amakhosi.
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Goals came from Monnapule Saleng who scored twice and provided the assist for Thabiso Lebitso who scored third for Pirates, while Ashley du Preez struck twice in the first half for Chiefs.
The inclusion of Saleng in the starting line was somewhat of a surprise from Riveiro and ultimately proved to be a stroke of genius.
Monnapule Saleng. I missed you. ♥ ????pic.twitter.com/61Nd77WnYW
— Sahil Ebrahim (@sahil_e_) March 9, 2024
Before Saturday's heroics, Saleng had started just six of Pirates' 20 league matches so far this season. A far far cry from the 20 starts he accumulated this season.
Saleng didn't have the best first half of the season for multiple reasons again we cannot discuss in this space," Riveiro said.
"In the AFCON break I think he did a very good job during the second pre-season that we had. He came in to play Sundowns in Pretoria, not a bad job.
"Then we couldn't continue with his for something simple as the flu that separated him from the 20 (squad) when we travelled to Polokwane.
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"Then we used the game against Crystal Lake to see the other options, other players and Wednesday he could have been an option from the bench because he was ready to play.
"In the end, I decided to do something different, to keep Saleng ready to play this game all the way the way he did it.
So, he is not a forgotten player that's for sure. He needs our support as well to be the Saleng that everybody had the opportunity to see last season.
Right now he's taking the right steps."
The brace takes Saleng to four goals for the season and the speedy winger will hope to add to that tally when Pirates take on Hungry Lions on 16 March in the last 16 of the Nedbank Cup.
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