Monnapule Saleng recently sealed a move from Orlando Pirates to Premier Soccer League newbies Orbit College FC.
By agreeing to join the newly promoted outfit, albeit on loan, the 27-year-old will be reuniting with coach Pogiso Makhoye, who discovered the South Africa international eight years ago. The Soweto giants and Saleng have recently had a strenuous relationship, which, reportedly, happened after the latter requested a review of his contract.
It led to limited playtime for the talented and versatile attacker whose last competitive game for Pirates came early in December 2024 against Al Ahly in CAF Champions League's Group C outing staged at Orlando.
This explains why Saleng was desperately in need of a new challenge, away from the Sea Robbers. Initially, it was Kaizer Chiefs who were heavily linked with Saleng, before a shock move to Orbit College FC.
‘Saleng needs to play more'
“I’m very happy to have my son back. I still can’t believe it. I think I will believe it when I see him when we return to training on Saturday or when the club unveils him,” Makhoye told Radio2000.
“My relationship with Saleng goes back eight years. I discovered the boy when he was young. I brought him to Rustenburg. I worked with him for three years. That’s why I say he’s like a son to me. I made him the player he is today. No one knows this player more than I.
“He’s at the peak of his career. He needs to play more. He needs to go back to Bafana Bafana because he still has a lot to offer,” he continued.
‘Saleng wants to help Orbit'
Makhoye is happy to have the winger back, insisting he wanted to play for the league's newbies. He has further stated having the player in his team might take him back to Bafana Bafana.
“He knows the team. He knows the culture. He’s been here before, like I said, I’m the one who developed him.
“I know he can play four positions up front. He can play on the right, on the left wing, as a 10 or as a striker. He scored lots of goals when he was here, especially in his last season.
“If he didn’t want to come here, this move wouldn’t have happened. We cannot bring a player who doesn’t want to be here. He wants to come and help the team,” Makhoye concluded.
