The ongoing saga surrounding Orlando Pirates and Monnapule Saleng continues to grab headlines as his future at the club remains uncertain.
Saleng’s Future in Limbo at Pirates
Saleng’s situation at Pirates has been shrouded in mystery due to his reported absence from both training and matches. Speculation has been rife, with the club and his management issuing statements in response to the rumors. It was initially claimed that Saleng had been denied a major overseas move a few years ago. Recently, reports surfaced that Egyptian giants Al Ahly had agreed on a deal to sign the winger, but negotiations reportedly hit a snag, leading to Saleng’s frustration and subsequent absence from training.
Saleng’s management, P Management, denied these claims, but the winger remains sidelined at Pirates. Despite this, he was called up by Bafana Bafana for the CHAN qualifiers and even started their first leg match against Egypt, which ended in a 1-1 draw in Bloemfontein. Interestingly, this was the same Bloemfontein and stadium where Pirates had lost 2-0 to Marumo Gallants the previous night.
Pirates Extend Saleng’s Contract
While assistant coach Mandla Ncikazi declined to comment on Saleng’s future, the club has now made a key decision. According to FARPost, Orlando Pirates have exercised the two-year extension option in Saleng’s contract, ensuring he stays with the club for an additional two years. His current deal, set to expire in June 2025, will now run through June 2027.
Saleng originally joined Pirates from Ea Lla Koto ahead of the 2021/22 season, after a successful stint with Moroka Swallows. His initial three-year contract, which was set to expire in 2025, included an option for an additional two years, which Pirates have now triggered. This means Saleng can no longer sign a pre-contract with another club, and any team wishing to acquire him will need to negotiate a transfer fee with Pirates.
