'You're disrupting the team!' Orlando Pirates urged to warn Patrick Maswanganyi and Monnapule Saleng as key attackers continue to miss important matches

Patrick Maswanganyi and Monnapule Saleng both missed Orlando Pirates' Caf Champions League trip to Stade d'Abidjan.

It was the third consecutive Pirates match that Maswanganyi has missed, while Saleng has been in and out of Bucs' matchday squad since the start of the current season.

The Buccaneers struggled in that match and a former Pirates player Lebohang Mokoena has urged coach Jose Riveiro to have a hard stance on his key men.

"I'll talk about Tito and Saleng, they know they are key to the team, so whatever issue or reason that may affect them, they should just put it aside, think about that badge!" Mokoena said as per Soccer Laduma.

"And say you know what, I'm here to make history at this club but these boys... one back page, one interview, now I come late, I'm sleeping late. Now, I answer the coach back, because the coach has always protected the players. 

"Internally as a coach, he should probably hammer some of the players. I think coach Riveiro must just step it up a bit, especially on the players he knows he needs," added the former footballer famously known as Cheeseboy. 

“We don't have senior guys who can call players in, [and say] 'You're disrupting the team!' That's why you find performances like this, the team struggling to score."

Maswanganyi and Saleng are being mentioned as some of Pirates' best-performing players this season.

However, Maswanganyi has managed just one goal in 17 matches across all competitions and he has one assist to his name.

But Saleng has five goals and an assist in 13 matches.

The Buccaneers are currently preparing to host Marumo Gallants in a Premier Soccer League match slated for Orlando Stadium on Tuesday.

It is a match they are pushing to play catch-up with log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns who are three points clear at the top of the table.