Latest news with #PSLPlayeroftheSeason
The South African
3 days ago
- Sport
- The South African
REVEALED: Why Orlando Pirates will loan Saleng out AND extend his contract
Monnapule Saleng has reportedly extended his Orlando Pirates contract, but he'll be leaving the club on loan for 2025-2026. Why? 27-year-old winger Saleng hasn't featured for the club since December 2024. Pirates see this as an ideal opportunity for the talented star to get back into the groove of first-team football. Chiefs complete deal for R18 million valued ex-Pirates star Monnapule Saleng's exile from the first team at Pirates has been a puzzling issue. Now, with the arrival of Oswin Appollis and the continuing emergence of Mohau Nkota, his pathway to first-team football is blocked. The board is presumably protecting the player's future resale value, especially if he impresses while out on loan and attracts bids for his services. 'Chiefs will still finish ninth with their new signings' According to SABC Sport , Monnapule Saleng will move to Orbit College on loan for the 2025-2026 season. The 2022-2023 PSL Player of the Season has become a fringe figure at Pirates since that dazzling campaign over two years ago. 'SABC Sport has established that Orlando Pirates are in advanced discussions to loan out winger Monnapule Saleng to their Betway Premiership rivals. Talks are ongoing between the Soweto giants and newly promoted outfit Orbit College to help revive the player's career. To help him find his feet again, SABC Sport has been informed that Saleng is edging closer to a loan spell at Orbit College, who were promoted to the Premier Soccer League top-flight last month.' Let the 'Mayele to Kaizer Chiefs' nonsense be a lesson to us all Will the Chiefs slayer return to Pirates after a loan spell with Orbit? Image: @orlandopirates / X Let us know by leaving a comment below or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Also, subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
4 days ago
- Sport
- The South African
Orlando Pirates star Saleng moving to promoted club
Orlando Pirates superstar winger Monnapule Saleng has endured his troubles, but now he's got a surprise escape route. The 27-year-old wide attacker hasn't played a competitive game for Pirates in 2025. PSL new boys, Orbit College, are his likely next destination on loan. Chiefs complete deal for R18 million valued ex-Pirates star According to SABC Sport, Monnapule Saleng will move to Orbit College on loan for the 2025-2026 season. The 2022-2023 PSL Player of the Season has become a fringe figure at Pirates since that dazzling campaign over two years ago. 'SABC Sport has established that Orlando Pirates are in advanced discussions to loan out winger Monnapule Saleng to their Betway Premiership rivals. Talks are ongoing between the Soweto giants and newly promoted outfit Orbit College to help revive the player's career. To help him find his feet again, SABC Sport has been informed that Saleng is edging closer to a loan spell at Orbit College, who were promoted to the Premier Soccer League topflight last month.' Orlando Pirates star Monnapule Saleng. Image: X @orlandopirates With concrete interest in the services of Karim Kimvuidi, the player will finally be granted his wish to leave the Pirates. Since arriving from Maritzburg in July 2023, he's only managed 37 appearances for the club. Click for the full story New Pirates boss Ouaddou was once sacked for gross misconduct Let us know by leaving a comment below or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Also, subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
4 days ago
- Sport
- The South African
Orlando Pirates news: Goodbye Saleng and Mofokeng?
Orlando Pirates sensational winger Relebohile Mofokeng is unlikely to stay at the club this coming season, with offers coming thick and fast. The 20-year-old attacker is a strong candidate to win PSL Player of the Season after an incredible season with the Buccaneers. European and American teams have expressed their interest in the youngster, but the Buccaneers are yet to receive a good offer from top teams. Orlando Pirates legend Edward Motale has pleaded with the club to allow Mofokeng to join a club from Europe's top leagues. 'That's my wish, for the boy to leave and trade his talent somewhere in the bigger leagues,' he told Soccer Laduma . 'Here locally he's got nothing to prove. And his age allows him now for him to trade outside and open windows for the other Mofokengs you get me. 'Obviously they'll be no other Mofokeng if he goes, but that's football, football is come-and-go baba,' the Orlando Pirates legend added. 'Even us we were there and the likes of (Happy) Jele arrived, even them they have left and others came, that's football. 'We will create another Mofokeng, even though he's not going to be 100 percent Mofokeng, but we'll create another one,' With Mofokeng set to leave, the Buccaneers have found his replacement in Oswin Appollis. The Bafana Bafana winger joined the Soweto giants from Polokwane City last month, to the surprise of many soccer fans. Another player that could be on the move is Monnapule Saleng. The speedy winger's future at the club remains unknown as he hasn't kicked a ball in black and white colours for seven months. In the next few weeks, Orlando Pirates could lose Mofokeng and Saleng. Given that the club signed Tshepang Moremi and Appollis, they should be fine. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
18-06-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Opinion: Percy Tau has passed his peak and here's why
Percy Tau once led the Bafana Bafana team for several years during his peak. Known as the 'Lion of Judah,' Tau was a joy to watch, especially while playing for Mamelodi Sundowns and Club Brugge. After winning the Golden Boot and being named PSL Player of the Season in the 2017/18 season, the 31-year-old winger transferred to Brighton & Hove Albion. At that time, Percy Tau was seen as the next big star, with many expecting him to reach the heights of legends like Benni McCarthy, Steven Pienaar, and Lucas Radebe. Unfortunately, he spent only three years in Europe before returning to Africa, where he played for Al Ahly. Tau played his best football at Sundowns, Union Saint-Gilloise, Club Brugge, and Anderlecht. He left Sundowns in 2018 after scoring 18 goals in 65 appearances for the Tshwane giants. While he wasn't at his peak yet, he was rapidly improving as a footballer. Although he could not play for Brighton initially in 2018, he was loaned out to a Belgian second division team where he excelled, securing another loan move to Belgian giants Club Brugge. In 2019, Tau performed exceptionally well with the national team, leading them to the quarter-finals. Although he did not score a goal in the tournament, his performance drew praise. He carried that form to Club Brugge, impressing in the UEFA Champions League against top teams like Real Madrid. After a successful season with Brugge, he was loaned to Anderlecht, where he continued to impress, scoring four times in 14 appearances. Brighton eventually recalled him after two and a half years on loan, but unfortunately, he played only six matches for the Seagulls in 2021. He then transferred to Al Ahly, where he spent four years. Since 2023, Percy Tau has had less impact on both club and country. He struggled in the Africa Cup of Nations last year, which adversely affected his career at Al Ahly. Earlier this year, he joined Qatar SC but only lasted a few months before leaving. Why didn't he achieve greater success in Europe? Percy Tau peaked between 2019 and 2022, but during these three years, he was mostly on loan. He wasn't given enough opportunities at Brighton, which compelled him to seek playing time elsewhere. While he improved as a player after leaving Sundowns, he did not fully realise his potential. Had he stayed at Brighton for another year or two, he could have enhanced his skills and extended his peak period. Injuries and a lack of motivation may have hindered his progress at Al Ahly. As of 2025, at 31 years old, Percy Tau is now a free agent. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
17-06-2025
- Sport
- The South African
‘Pirates star Saleng has done damage to football lovers in SA'
Monnapule Saleng has no future at Orlando Pirates, but how did we get here with the 2022-2023 PSL Player of the Season? 27-year-old Saleng hasn't kicked a competitive ball for Pirates since December 2024. Saleng saga timeline Regardless of what's going down behind the scenes, Bucs fans haven't taken kindly to what they perceive as poor professionalism from one of their star players., Hlengani@20 had this to say on X: 'The Saleng story has done a lot of damage to the South African football lovers. It's not clear up to now who is in the wrong between Pirates and the player. Contract issues are supposed to be handled between the club and the player's agent, transparency and legalities are supposed to be observed. On this subject, it would seem somebody is running away from the truth. That is the reason the whole matter is causing a lot of animosity between the football-loving community. It stings, it is unprofessional, and it is really bad to say the least.' Saleng produced a dazzling output of 15 goals and 11 assists from 30 appearances across all competitions in 2022-2023 to be crowned PSL Player of the Year. 2023-2024 didn't reach those heights, but class, as they say, is permanent. He was easily the best player in South Africa, by a mile. In October 2022, he bagged a match-winning brace in a 3-0 win against Sundowns in the MTN8 semi-final. There's no doubt that Saleng loves big games. Saleng started the last campaign well with five goals in 13 outings, including a strike in the MTN8 final, but the second half of 2024-2025 has been a horror show for the player. He hasn't played a single competitive minute since the turn of the year. Ironically, his last minutes in a Pirates jersey came in a Caf Champions League group stage match against Al Ahly in early December, the club that tried to sign him. He was away with the Bafana Bafana CHAN qualifier side for a two-legged battle with Egypt. After starting the first leg, which ended 1-1, Saleng was released from the squad and returned to Pirates. Now, he's in limbo again. Pirates' most important player is returning The talk of the town. Image: Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix Where will Saleng play his football next season? Let us know by leaving a comment below or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Also, subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
