Was Pirates Saving Ndah And Saleng For the MTN8 Final? Jose Respond
Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro has opened up on the absence of two usual starters Olisa Ndah and Monnapule Saleng in their 1-0 away victory over Richards Bay on Sunday.
In their first away league fixture of the season, Pirates were without the services of two key figures in vice-captain Ndah and the current club’s top scorer for the new season, Saleng.
The two players were both substituted in the latter stages of their last home game played against Polokwane City, after sustaining what looked to be minor injuries as they both managed to walk off the pitch.
The Spanish tactician confirmed that both players are out due only to injury, alluding to the forced substitutions that had to be made in their game against City.
“If you remember our game against Polokwane City, both Olisa and Saleng were subbed because of two different injuries. That is why they were not here because they could not make it, they were not available for selection.”
After scoring the first goal against Polokwane, Saleng was taken over by the thrill of the moment, ending up knocking the back of his head against an excited Helmy Gueldich, the Pirates fitness head of performance who was also in on the celebrations.
The Pirates’ winger was subsequently substituted moments after, due to the discomfort on his head.
Meanwhile, Ndah went down after an aerial duel with Polokwane midfielder, Cole Alexander, with the Nigerian seemingly taking a knock on his right knee and leaving the pitch limping in discomfort.
Despite not mentioning the seriousness of the injuries, the Pirates coach insisted that the two players were not left in an attempt to save them for the MTN8 final against Stellenbosch as the club is also skeptical of their availability in that game as well.
“Actually, it’s not 100% sure that they are going to be in the final as well, so we are not saving anybody because as I said before, we are taking every game as a final for us. We are giving the same respect to Richards Bay that we are going to give to Stellenbosch in the final.
The two-time MTN8 champion concluded by saying, “So that is the way we want to do things, there is nothing like saving players, not at all.”
