While the Monnapule Saleng saga at Orlando Pirates has been put to bed by now, one former Kaizer Chiefs player has sought to reopen old wounds.
Saleng did not feature in the Pirates side for over six months while physically fit, and this led to a drawn-out issue and much speculation behind his absence.
Ultimately, the 27-year-old was loaned out to Orbit College FC as Pirates look to put out the fire and any hint of smoke.
Now, former Kaizer Chiefs player Thuso Phala has weighed in on the matter.
Respect the Game: Phala’s Insights on Nkota, Saleng, and Career Moves
“So if you respect the game, the game will respect you back. We don’t know the reasons he stopped playing at Pirates; there were a lot of stories, and in comes (Mohau) Nkota. Saleng is far more talented than Nkota,” Phala said on omniaudioafrica YouTube Channel.
Phala, 39, went on to reference that fact had secured a big move to Al-Ettifaq.
“Nkota comes, plays a season, scores goals, national team, and he gets a big-money move because he respects the game.
“Now you look back, and years later, you’re like, maybe that’s why he never got that move overseas. He’s been there for two, three years, scoring in derbies, and you ask yourself why he didn’t go overseas. There were a lot of stories (but) respect the game. If he comes to Chiefs, will he come for respecting the game or he wants to shine? Because at the end of the day, the team comes first.”
The closest the public got to any real insight was the SuperSport documentary Giants, in which there is a short dressing room clip where Saleng reveals his mental state.In a typical locker room speech given by then-coach Jose Riveiro, he turns to Saleng and asks: Are you okay? Saleng then responds: “No, I’m not okay.”
The documentary, though, aired after Saleng left the club, and his absence from the side for months while physically fit led to rampant speculation. There were even reports of a salary dispute and of a failed transfer to Egyptian giants Al Ahly.
@Michael_Sherman
IOL Sport
