Soweto derby hero Monnapule Saleng has revealed at an important message from head coach Jose Riveiro before Orlando Pirates' 3-2 victory against rivals Kaizer Chiefs.
The Buccaneers made it back-to-back wins over bitter neighbours Amakhosi with a 3-2 victory in front of a sold-out FNB Stadium on Saturday.
Goals came from Monnapule Saleng, who scored twice, and Thabiso Lebitso, who added a third in between Saleng's brace for Pirates, while Ashley Du Preez struck twice in the first half for Chiefs.
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Pirates had gone into halftime 2-1 behind, and speaking to the club’s media after the match, the speedy winger revealed that it was the half-time team talk that galvanized his side.
"At half-time with my teammates, the conversation was about just playing our normal football because first half half we were rushing," Saleng said.
"Especially when we were in their half, we were rushing and made the wrong decisions."
"So, second half, the conversation was about relaxing and playing our normal football. We are going to get those spaces we want, they are going to open up."
Prior to Saturday's match, Saleng had started just one of Pirates' last 12 league matches – a surprise decline for the reigning DStv Premiership Players’ Player of the Season.
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The 25-year-old also revealed that Riveiro had encouraged him to enjoy the match as he edges closer towards last season’s form.
"Today’s game was all about enjoying," Saleng added.
"So, I tried to enjoy myself because the coach had told me to enjoy and play my normal game because I haven’t’ playing for a long time, so it was my game to just enjoy myself.
"It’s a derby, I haven’t been scoring lately in derbies, so (it) was to enjoy and bring back my confidence."
Saleng will be aiming to continue his impressive form when the Soweto giants take on Hungry Lions in the Last 16 of the Nedbank Cup on Saturday.
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