Monnapule Saleng was part of the Orlando Pirates squad as they prepared to face their next CAF Champions League opponent at the Orlando Stadium. The Buccaneers host Ivory Coast side Stade d’Abidjan on Saturday.
The Group C encounter will take place at Orlando Stadium on Saturday, January 4th at 18:00. This follows a 1-1 draw in the first leg match played at Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Ivory Coast in December 2024.
The Bucs are second in Group C, just two points behind Al Ahly after picking one win and two draws.
Saleng, whose absence in recent times has been the subject of speculation, was a notable face as the team welcomed journalists for the mandatory pre-match media events.
Since the start of the current season, Saleng has missed 11 matches. He has also played only three league matches, contrasting his previous campaign.
The former Swallows winger missed eight matches during the 2023/24 season, making 27 appearances in all competitions. In recent times, he missed the only league defeat to Stellenbosch FC.
However, he returned for the CAF Champions League against Al Ahly last month.
Just as fans rejoiced at his comeback, Saleng was unavailable from the last three matches, notably the team’s 8-1 demolition of Marumo Gallants.
With the January transfer window opening soon, uncertainty surrounds Saleng’s future at the club.
WHAT WAS JOSE RIVEIRO’S RESPONSE WHEN ASKED ABOUT MONNAPULE SALENG
When asked by FARPost about the availability of the 26-year-old, the Spaniard dodged the question like a Pro.
“Obviously, I’m not gonna tell you 24 hours before the match who’s available and who’s not,” Riveiro said. “First, because we still have a training session. Once we finish the training, we will know who is available and who is not.
“I think you’ll probably understand that I’m not going to say anything about who’s going to be in the 20 or the starting XI.
“Or who is not gonna be [in] tomorrow? Because those are small things that also play in the game.
“Our opponent would like to know who’s going to play. Our opponents are not going to have access to that information, so I’m not going to tell you who is in or who is out. I’m sure that you can understand.”
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