Pirates Adopt Sundowns’ Status To Ban Saleng
Orbit College coach Pogiso Mokhoye has confirmed that star attacker Monnapule Saleng will not be playing against his parent club, Orlando Pirates, this season.
Saleng was loaned to the newly promoted club, Orbit College, by the Buccaneers. However, Orlando Pirates, fearing their former star player could haunt them, included a clause in the loan agreement that prevents him from playing in any matches against them.
The former PSL Players’ Player of the Year for the 2022/23 season did not feature in a single match during the second half of last term. This was reportedly due to a contract dispute between Saleng and the club, as well as a fallout with former coach Jose Riveiro.
The situation with the Soweto giants had become untenable, and it was Sportswire who reported that Saleng was set to leave the club.
With no resolution in sight for the winger, who has also attracted interest from Kaizer Chiefs, Pirates decided to loan him to the North West side for the season.
The loan deal, as confirmed by Mokhoye on MSW with Robert Marawa, includes a clause that also prevents two other loaned players, Thuso Moleleki and Yanga Madiba, from facing Pirates.
Saleng’s last appearance for the Buccaneers was in the CAF Champions League group stages against Al Ahly last December. During his time with Orlando Pirates, he won five trophies, made 103 appearances, scored 27 goals, and provided nine assists.
The Umswenko Boys will now rely on Saleng’s experience when they visit AmaZulu in their first Betway Premiership game at Princess Magogo Stadium on Saturday at 15:00.
