Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro on Wednesday spoke for the first time on the Monnapule Saleng saga that has been drawn out over several months.
For whatever reason (there have been many speculated), the 26-year-old winger has been a bizarre absentee from the Pirates lineup going on three months, and last week it emerged that it may be due to a failed move abroad and unhappiness over his wages at the club.
Whether that is true or not has not been confirmed by the club itself.
After a move to Al Ahly reportedly fell through, Saleng opted not to attend training, which prompted his exclusion from the side since.
Insights into Saleng’s situation: Riveiro’s reveals challenges
While Riveiro did not get into specifics on Saleng’s situation, reading between the lines was quite revealing.
“I don’t think about players when we win or when we don’t win. I think no one would like to be in this situation when we started the season, but it is what it is,” said Riveiro.
“It’s something that, as you know, is not my role to speak so much about that issue. I just wish the best for both sides in this case and we don’t… whatever I say is going to be a big headline, right?”
Riveiro went on to intimate that Saleng may not want to be at the club, as he talked about other players with ‘hunger’.
“But we focus on the place that we have. That’s it. I think luckily we have a lot of talent in the team.
“We have players with a lot of hunger, wanting to use their opportunities. Like I said many times, the opportunities are presented there for them.
“We have players in every position capable of doing their job. That’s it. We have to leave the moment and look for the future. The future for us is to get ready tomorrow for a big match on the weekend. There’s no time to think so much about who is there or who is not.”
@Michael_Sherman
IOL Sport
