‘Pirates star Saleng has done damage to football lovers in SA'
Monnapule Saleng has no future at Orlando Pirates, but how did we get here with the 2022-2023 PSL Player of the Season?
27-year-old Saleng hasn't kicked a competitive ball for Pirates since December 2024.
Saleng saga timeline
Regardless of what's going down behind the scenes, Bucs fans haven't taken kindly to what they perceive as poor professionalism from one of their star players.,
Hlengani@20 had this to say on X:
'The Saleng story has done a lot of damage to the South African football lovers. It's not clear up to now who is in the wrong between Pirates and the player. Contract issues are supposed to be handled between the club and the player's agent, transparency and legalities are supposed to be observed. On this subject, it would seem somebody is running away from the truth. That is the reason the whole matter is causing a lot of animosity between the football-loving community. It stings, it is unprofessional, and it is really bad to say the least.'
Saleng produced a dazzling output of 15 goals and 11 assists from 30 appearances across all competitions in 2022-2023 to be crowned PSL Player of the Year. 2023-2024 didn't reach those heights, but class, as they say, is permanent. He was easily the best player in South Africa, by a mile. In October 2022, he bagged a match-winning brace in a 3-0 win against Sundowns in the MTN8 semi-final. There's no doubt that Saleng loves big games.
Saleng started the last campaign well with five goals in 13 outings, including a strike in the MTN8 final, but the second half of 2024-2025 has been a horror show for the player. He hasn't played a single competitive minute since the turn of the year. Ironically, his last minutes in a Pirates jersey came in a Caf Champions League group stage match against Al Ahly in early December, the club that tried to sign him. He was away with the Bafana Bafana CHAN qualifier side for a two-legged battle with Egypt. After starting the first leg, which ended 1-1, Saleng was released from the squad and returned to Pirates. Now, he's in limbo again.
Pirates' most important player is returning The talk of the town. Image: Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix
Where will Saleng play his football next season?
Let us know by leaving a comment below or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Also, subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The South African
an hour ago
- The South African
Kaizer Chiefs news: Edson Castillo and Fiacre Ntwari
Betway Premiership giants Kaizer Chiefs are linked to high-profile players around the African continent, but the Premier Soccer League will have the last say. The names include the sought-after Fiston Mayele, Feisal Salum, Maxi Nzengeli, and Jean Claude Ahoua. According to the Premier Soccer League rules, clubs can only register five foreign nationals. What is the current situation in the Kaizer Chiefs squad? Kaizer Chiefs news: Medical tests and Kabelo Nkgwesa As reported last Tuesday, Amakhosi made their first big decision on a foreign national. Edmilson Dove, who played 10 times due to a lengthy injury layoff, has become the first sacrifice. Latest: Rulani Mokwena to Orlando Pirates The Mozambican international joined Amakhosi in August 2022 from UD Songo. He left the club after 56 games, including two goals. So, what does this mean for the foreign spots? With Dove gone, Amakhos have four foreign players left: Fiacre Ntwari, Inacio Miguel, Edson Castillo, and Glody Lilepo. According to reports, Rwanda international goalkeeper Ntwari is linked with a departure, as well as the 31-year-old Venezuelan Castillo. With Kaizer Chiefs linked with seven internationals, the club will most likely sacrifice Ntwari and Castillo to make three foreign spots available. *Gaston Sirino earned South African citizenship after playing in Mzansi for over five years. INACIO MIGUEL AND GLODY LILEPO ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN AT KAIZER CHIEFS Indications suggest that Miguel and Lilepo are set to stay based on the impressive impact during their debut seasons last term. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
an hour ago
- The South African
Kaizer Chiefs news: Medical tests and Kabelo Nkgwesa
Kaizer Chiefs have become the first Betway Premiership club to return from the end-of-season break for preseason training. The Glamour Boys finished in a disappointing ninth place last term but ended on a high. It was a 2-1 victory over fierce nemesis Orlando Pirates in the Nedbank Cup to end a 10-year trophy drought. Amakhosi will leave South Africa to hold a preseason camp in the Netherlands between 3 and 19 July, including a friendly against Eredivisie side Utrecht FC. The Kaizer Chiefs senior side reported to Naturena on Friday for medical and fitness tests Latest: Rulani Mokwena to Orlando Pirates Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Manqoba Ozoemena and the Sporting Director Kaizer Motaung Jr. Image: kcofficial/X Kaizer Chiefs players Wandile Duba and Sibongiseni Mthethwa. Image: kcofficial/Instagram Confirmed: PSL club sell winger to Orlando Pirates Paseka Mako won't be the only new left-back at Kaizer Chiefs. The Betway Premiership side will introduce Kabelo Nkgwesa from the DStv Diski Challenge (DDC) team. The 19-year-old star was named the reserve team's Most Improved Player and Player of the Season for the 2024 DDC championship. The club's Instagram page posted the players arriving at the club's base on Friday for medical and fitness tests. One of the unfamiliar faces was the DDC superstar Nkgwesa. Kabelo Nkgwesa has joined the Kaizer Chiefs senior team for preseason training. Image: kcofficial/Instagram Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
2 hours ago
- The South African
Latest: Rulani Mokwena to Orlando Pirates
These are exciting times if you love Betway Premiership giants Orlando Pirates and Rulani Mokwena as a football coach. Reports say the Buccaneers are set to name the 37-year-old as the next coach. While Jose Riveiro left the club in April to take over at Al Ahly, the Sea Robbers are yet to name the much-anticipated replacement. According to iDiski Times' Sinethemba Makonco, Mokwena's sensational return to Orlando Pirates is imminent. Mokwena, who is the son of Julias Sono Hloae, and the nephew of the club legend Ephraim 'Jomo' Sono, was in charge of the Buccaneers in 2019. Mokwena later moved to Chippa United before returning to Sundowns in 2022. Confirmed: PSL club sell winger to Orlando Pirates According to Makonco, Mokwena and the club are in the final stages of negotiations. The former Mamelodi Sundowns coach is proposing his own technical team. Reports: Orlando Pirates name selling price for Mofokeng 'Talks between Orlando Pirates and Rulani Mokwena have reached an advanced stage, but with some finer details still to be ironed out,' the report said. 'Mokwena is known to be wanting to bring his own technical team, like he did at Sundowns (step by step) and Wydad AC. 'Additional information received is that Mokwena has approached Michael Loftman for the assistant coach position, while Mandla Ncikazi is expected to remain at Orlando Pirates as assistant coach, too.' Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
