Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro gave a succinct one-word response when asked about Monnapule Saleng starting in place of Mohau Nkota during Orlando Pirates’ clash with Al Ahly on Saturday.
Saleng had missed the last couple of matchday squads with no clear explanation from the club. There was no report of the 26-year-old winger being injured.
In his absence, academy graduate Mohau Nkota stepped up and contributed four crucial goals. Two of those goals came in the CAF Champions League fixture against CR Belouizdad. The 20-year-old also struck twice in the Betway Premiership fixture against AmaZulu FC.
But on Saturday at a sold-out Orlando Stadium, Riveiro decided to bench the youngster, introducing him as a second half substitute.
WHAT JOSE RIVEIRO SAID ABOUT MONNAPULE SALENG REPLACING MOHAU NKOTA
As if to avoid explaining a lot of things, the Spaniard just gave a one-word answer: “Tactical”. The Pirates head coach seemed reluctant to provide additional details.
Meanwhile, Riveiro felt the performance in the goalless draw against Ahly was “excellent”.
“I think it’s an excellent performance by Orlando Pirates from the beginning until the end,” said Riveiro after the game. I think it’s a super good opponent [Al Ahly], tough opponent, they have a lot of experience, they know how to minimise the way to suffer.
“Any other opponent today, without that performance, will struggle. I think that’s the only part we missed today—to create a little bit more in the last third. Knowing that against these types of teams, you’re going to have one or two opportunities, and you have to capitalise.
“But I’m so proud of the whole squad, everybody, the 20 [players[, and even the ones who couldn’t make it to the 20 because they helped us a lot this week to prepare for this game. Yeah, I think it’s one more point, and we keep going.”
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