Why Saleng ‘is not a loss for Pirates but Sundowns’ gain’

Mamelodi Sundowns have been lauded for bringing on board South Africa international Monnapule Saleng from Orlando Pirates.

The 27-year-old was playing for the Premier Soccer League newbies Orbit College FC albeit on loan from the Soweto giants. In the 13 games played from the start of the season, the winger scored two goals and provided three assists despite the initial struggle to settle in.

Saleng comes in knowing he has stiff competition since there are many quality players in Sundowns who are desperate to be involved regularly.

While some football stakeholders in mzansi have questioned Bucs the logic behind them selling a quality player to their direct rivals, former Masandawana midfielder Benedict Tso Vilakazi has explained why Bucs have lost nothing but Sundowns have gained something.

‘Everyone though Saleng was done and usted’

“I wouldn’t say Pirates have lost because before he went on loan he was not really in the team, and [Bucs] tried to get people that will replace him. That is the reason why they had to go for the likes of [Oswin] Appollis and [Tshepang] Moremi,” he told iDiski TV.

“Yes, he went to Orbit, and I think everyone thought it was done and dusted but I remember when I said sometimes it’s good for him to go to a team that doesn’t have pressure so that he can go there and build himself and maybe something can happen in the future you never know.

“But what is important is that he needs to go there and work hard, and I think it worked well for him going to Orbit, now he signed for Sundowns. It’s a tricky one because yes one, when you do that [sell a player] you are strengthening that team but when they sit down as Pirates and say why should we keep him.

“He’s on loan at Orbit and Sundowns we were willing to pay money for him, and we are not using him, he’s not in our plans we already replaced him with about two or three players in his position,” Vilakazi concluded.