Saleng: More drama as Orbit College dismiss ‘fake’ online apology

Orbit College have dismissed a social media statement that suggested that the club had apologised for the criticism levelled on Monnapule Saleng by coach Pogiso Makhoye.

Saleng is on a season-long loan at the newly-promoted side from Orlando Pirates but has not set the stage a light so far as it was expected when he joined his boyhood club.

That led to heavy criticism from Makhoye, who tore into the player during the international break, slamming his performances while claiming the team performed better without him.

Makhoye claimed young players at Orbit College are outperforming the 27-year-old while questioning his commitment to the course just one month since the season started.

What did the Saleng ‘apology’ say?

That raised questions over the future of Saleng at the club where he is seeking to revive his career after being frozen out of the squad at Pirates over reasons that are yet to be known last season.

However, a statement surfaced on social media with an account on Facebook which appeared to be the club’s official page, issuing a lengthy apology to Saleng.

“We at Orbit College FC wish to address recent comments made by our coach regarding the performance of our player, Monnapule Saleng. We recognize that these remarks, shared last week on social media, have caused concern and disappointment among our fans, stakeholders, and the wider football community,” the statement read in part.

“We sincerely apologize for the unintended distress caused by these comments. Our intention is always to foster a positive and supportive environment for all our players, who work tirelessly to represent our club with pride and dedication. Monnapule Saleng is a valued member of our team, and we deeply regret any impression that his contributions have been undervalued or unfairly criticized.

Orbit College dismiss fake statement

“As a club, we are committed to supporting our players’ growth and well-being, both on and off the field. We acknowledge that public statements must be made with care to avoid misinterpretation or harm,” the statement further says.

However, just hours after the ‘apology’ was widely publicized, Orbit College have come out to deny that they have spoken over the matter with the club’s general manager Kganakga Matome terming it fake.

Speaking to FARPost, Matome said “there is no statement issued by the club” regarding Saleng, creating a state of confusion while adding fuel to the already raging fire.

It remains to be seen how the club will handle the situation as it appears the coach is already fed up with the winger who was signed to much fanfare in the off-season.