Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro has revealed how the technical team are getting the best out of Monnapule Saleng and other talented players in the squad this season.
So far Saleng has scored 12 goals and contributed five assists in all competitions for Pirates, and in their last outing against Swallows he grabbed his first hat-trick in the league.
As a result of his performances the 24-year-old’s name has also been brought up in Player of the Season debates.
His coach was now asked if there was anything in particular done to help the winger to be at the top of his game.
“We try to create an environment and structure where all the talented players can have space in our game,” Riveiro said.
“It is not easy to do. It is something that you cannot do in a short space of time and at the same continue winning.
“So we try to find the balance in between, understanding that the team that we are representing, we have to get results while at the same time that we are building something else.
“And like I said before we used to put our eyes, and it’s normal, in the players that do the last pass, the last touch to the net but we want to see all them as part of a whole picture and structure that will allow us the opportunity to celebrate games like today more frequently.
“Inside the structure you have the possibility to see players like the ones who played today. I think they all played very well in front of our central midfielder.
“So we are doing nothing special, we are just trying to work as good as possible.
“Every day we try to help our players to find solutions from the field but in the end it’s their talent, their understanding of the game and their capacity to be effective and find small spaces and the way they interact.
“From our side, it’s more our responsibility to guarantee that they spend more time on the ball and then there is talent. I cannot explain to my players how to pass the ball or how to fool the opponent, that’s something that comes naturally and all the credit to them.”
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Pirates are currently in third position on the DStv Premiership log with 34 points in 22 matches.
