Monnapule Saleng, the Orlando Pirates star, is reportedly battling with depression, causing concern for his parents.
The 26-year-old winger has been absent from the pitch for the last three months, with the reasons for his absence still unclear. In an exclusive interview with Sunday World, Saleng’s parents opened up about their son’s struggles at Pirates.
“I’m in pain,” Saleng’s father expressed. “He is the one who supports us, and seeing him in this situation, it breaks my heart. I wish he could share what’s truly bothering him before it becomes too late.”
According to his father, the issue seems to stem from contract problems. There have been rumors that Saleng is underpaid, despite being one of the top performers for the Buccaneers.
“The issue is the contract,” his father said. “We would love for him to stay at Pirates because it’s one of the biggest clubs in the country.”
Saleng’s childhood friend, Boikanyo Maine, also weighed in, urging Pirates to offer a better salary for the talented winger.
“If he wasn’t an important asset, Bafana Bafana wouldn’t have called him up,” Maine pointed out. “We hope Pirates consider his needs. It’s not fair that he’s getting R70,000 while someone else is earning R500,000, especially when his contribution to the team is so significant.”
Saleng has not yet spoken publicly about his situation at Pirates, but he is currently representing Bafana Bafana in their quest to qualify for the CHAN competition. This season, Saleng has played seven matches, scoring four goals.
