The excitement was palpable at Orlando Stadium on Saturday night as the Orlando Pirates kicked off their 2024 MTN8 campaign with a resounding 3-1 victory over SuperSport United.
This triumph, marking the quarter-finals of the tournament, showcases the Pirates’ strong start in their title defense.
Orlando Pirates have been a dominant force in the MTN8 under the guidance of Spanish head coach Jose Riveiro.
In his two seasons at the helm, the team has secured the MTN8 trophy twice.
Their previous victories include overcoming AmaZulu FC in the 2022 final and Mamelodi Sundowns in last season’s finale.
With their recent success, the Pirates have firmly established themselves as the Cup kings of South African football. In addition to their back-to-back MTN8 wins, they have also clinched consecutive Nedbank Cup titles, totaling four domestic trophies in the past two seasons.
Riveiro’s Praise for Monnapule Saleng
Jose Riveiro was full of praise for Monnapule Saleng following the match against SuperSport United.
Saleng, who was named Man of the Match, was instrumental in all three of the Pirates’ goals.
His skill and pace made him a constant threat to the SuperSport defense.
Riveiro noted, “If I compare this pre-season with the past pre-season, he [Saleng] is definitely in a better space. His performances in Spain were really good; he has shown what he is capable of doing.”
He continued, “He’s surrounded by good players who are doing a lot for him, but I think he had a good game [against SuperSport United]. He was a permanent threat to the opponents.”
Riveiro also mentioned how happy Saleng seemed after the match, expressing hope that this form would continue throughout the season. “We missed him at some moments last season, so we are all happy to see these types of performances again.
It’s been a long time since he’s been a Man of the Match.”
Looking Ahead
In the previous 2023/24 campaign, Saleng experienced a dip in form, often coming on as a second-half substitute. Despite featuring in 27 matches and scoring five goals, his performance was not as consistent as hoped.
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