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Jose Riveiro, the head coach of Orlando Pirates, has explained the absence of Patrick Maswanganyi during the goalless draw against Al Ahly at Orlando Stadium on Saturday.
Riveiro sparked some surprise by omitting Maswanganyi from the match, as he wasn’t included in the matchday squad at all.
This is the second time Maswanganyi has been absent from the matchday lineup for the Buccaneers, having previously missed the Betway Premiership match against TS Galaxy in October.
Following the match on Saturday, the Spanish coach shared some context regarding Maswanganyi’s absence but did not provide complete details.
“For reasons I am unable to disclose, he was not available for selection today,” Riveiro remarked.
“As I’ve said many times before, I don’t think it’s appropriate for me to comment on anyone else’s health, only perhaps about my own.
“He was not part of the 20-man squad, and I don’t think we need to… I’m unsure how to express this without it becoming a headline. After this match, discussing a player I didn’t use feels a bit disheartening for me.
“We should highlight the performances of Monnapule [Saleng], Rele [Relebohile Mofokeng], and [Mohau] Nkota. They played exceptionally well; it was an outstanding display. Just to clarify, he was not available for selection.”
In addition, Riveiro recognized that the Buccaneers struggled to maintain their typical style of play due to the quality of Al Ahly but expressed confidence in their upcoming performances.
“We faced a strong team, and they are not just formidable because of their name; they have significant resources,” Riveiro explained.
“I’m not sure how much insight you have into today’s game, but our players did all they could. Credit to the Pirates for their remarkable defensive concentration.
“When you compete against teams like this, you have to acknowledge there will be times when they gain the advantage.
“I believe we had 55% possession throughout the 90 minutes, while our usual average is about 60%, sometimes even close to 70%, especially at home.
“We must accept situations like this that force us into a style we’re less comfortable with. We prefer to always be in control of the ball.”
The Pirates are scheduled to take on the Ivorian powerhouse Stade d’Abidjan at Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Ivory Coast on Saturday.
