Jwaneng Galaxy head coach Morena Ramoreboli has revealed he was surprised star winger Monnapule Saleng did not come off the bench for Orlando Pirates during their shock CAF Champions League victory on the weekend.
Check Out: CAF Confirm Prize Money For African Football League
Saleng has become one of the Buccaneers' most prominent players over the course of the past season.
However, head coach Jose Riveiro did not feel the need to utilise the Bafana Bafana man against the Botswana Premier League champions on Friday, with Pirates eventually being eliminated from the continental competition by Jwaneng.
Ramoreboli has since expressed his shock at the fact that the 25-year-old failed to make an appearance off the bench when Bucs were trying to double their 1-0 lead at Orlando Stadium.
"I thought, honestly speaking, Saleng will come in, because how they were playing, I think it was more of his game, utilising that width more, creating those one-v-ones," he told members of the media after their 5-4 penalty-shootout victory.
"But maybe, for reasons known to the coach, and maybe because they're playing the final, maybe the coach decided that he can't risk all his players.
"But during the game, I thought Saleng will come in, because Pirates wanted to stretch us so that they can play into the box.
"So I felt that he was gonna give us a problem. Like it happened when [Karim] Kimvuidi came, because I think they needed someone that can hold more on to the ball and Kimvuidi was giving them that.
"But I think again, it was a matter of trying to control areas. So, we tried our best to control those areas."
??????Jwaneng Galaxy eliminate Orlando Pirates from the #TotalEnergiesCAFCL ?Galaxy defeat the Buccaneers 5-4 on penalties, Relebohile Mofokeng with the missed penalty pic.twitter.com/HbWgBOfL1G
— Kamogelo Lukas Motecwane (@KamoMotecwane) September 29, 2023
Check Out: 5 Youngest UCL Players In History
Ramoreboli has now led Galaxy to only their second appearance in the CAF Champions League group stage, with their last showing coming during the 2021/22 campaign, when they were drawn in a group with north African giants Esperance de Tunis, CR Belouizdad and Etoile Sportive du Sahel.
You must be SIGNED IN to read and post comments.
WATCH VIDEO:
