Former Orlando Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns and Moroka Swallows midfielder Lebohang Mokoena believes the Monnapule Saleng saga has had an impact on Pirates losing steam in chase for the league title this season.
Saleng has been the subject of headlines since having what his management team called “significant issues” with the club, and the situation has seen him side-lined since December 2024.
The winger was also part of the Bafana Bafana CHAN squad that played Egypt in the first leg of the qualifiers but was recalled before the second leg. Pirates coach Jose Riveiro has also recently commented on the saga saying he wishes the best for the player and club in their quest to resolve the matter.
The Buccaneers were at the start of the season touted as title contenders along with Sundowns but in Saleng’s absence saw the gap at the top of the table widened. Cheeseboy as Mokoena is affectionately known spoke to iDiski Times writer Lethabo Kganyago in the latest edition of the newspaper where he said the matter did have an impact listing the possible ripple effect.
“It does,” said Mokoena when asked about Saleng’s absence having an effect.
“You know, talking from experience, you don’t want to see a fellow teammate that’s always playing and contributing to the team go through such because it does cause a ripple effect. Because now, if you look at the current Pirates squad, you had a Tito if he’s on song, he would really bring it on and make Pirates win.
“You have Rele but now, Tito’s out, Saleng has been out. So, all the pressure goes to Rele and Mabasa for them to deliver. That’s only one or two players.
“So, you really need the other players. So I think that really distracted the team a bit and I was hoping that in the beginning, they would have resolved it early, just before we got to the halfway mark, so that Saleng can get back onto the field.
“And it’s not happening, and the more Pirates wins, the more they’ll forget about their star player and start searching for another player. But I think a lesson learned from them for this season.
“But yeah, as for Saleng, I think it’s just clear, and I’ve said it before, the most important thing is to honour your contract and go play football. Let God deal with the rest and let your agent deal with the rest, while at least you are on the field of play and participating.
“Because other players also take that as an advantage now to also query certain things behind closed doors to say yeah so and so is not coming to training, but he’s allowed to do this and that. So, that causes a lot of division as well because some players are deemed to be favourites and that distracts a lot because other players also want to play.”
You can read Mokoena’s full interview with Kganyago in edition 195 when you subscribe to IDiski Times Media WhatsApp Number for FREE.
