Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro admits he’s impressed with the way his players react after losing their place in the starting line-ups.
Monnapule Saleng was a real impact player in their 2-0 win over Moroka Swallows in the Original Soweto Derby on Tuesday evening at Orlando Stadium.
He forced an own goal within 10 seconds of replacing Vincent Pule and produced a lively display after being benched three times in the last four games for the club.
Much like Evidence Makgopa who had to bide his time for over a year to get a chance, where he’s now scored three in his last five league outings.
“Yes I mean the competition, like I said several times, the competition in the group it’s high like, it’s wild sometimes,” Riveiro replied to a question from iDiski Times.
“Because they are all very good players, they all signed for Pirates with the intention to be important players and obviously to be important in your eyes and fans’ eyes, supporters, you need to be on the field.
“And they are all pushing and trying to be on the field. I used to wake up in the minus one training with 31,32, 33 players available for selection and it’s obviously it’s a headache. I want to be positive and say I’m thinking that is a good headache, when you have quality, but it’s important also for them to accept the roles in the different moments of the season.
“Ja, usually there’s time, competitions and games for everybody, and in football nowadays, if you want to play, which is not the case today, like I said before, the rhythm in the first half was not good enough, but if you want to play 90 minutes in high rhythm, with the schedule that we are enjoying right now in football, and South Africa is not an exception, the contribution from the bench becomes key.
“So if the player from the bench is not coming with the right motivation and understanding that like for example Siphelo in the end that is playing 10 minutes, but he needs to understand that are very important minutes for the team, for him as well, to to be prepared for the next time.
“But happy with the contribution from the bench, happy for Saleng, he’s not having the best time in his career and coming from the bench and contributes with with a good action, that luckily finished in the goal. I think it was an own goal if I’m not mistaken, but for sure important for the boys and for us for the future.”
Pirates moved into sixth place above Swallows after their win at eSgodini, with 19 points after 12 matches played.
