Orlando Pirates fans are split down the middle on how the club is dealing with Monnapule Saleng. What happens next?
Pirates must find a resolution to the Saleng saga
The longer the club fails to take concrete action, the more it’ll destabilise their goals for the season. The Betway Premiership title race already looks like a long shot with Sundowns clear by 16 points, although Pirates have four games in hand. It can be debated, however, that the technical team’s decision to freeze Saleng out is definitive action and proof that they want him out.
Orlando Pirates has the chance to make big money off Saleng
The player’s reluctance to stay is a big issue, but that doesn’t mean they can’t get a good sum for the 26-year-old. The record departure in Pirates history was €2.3 million (R44 million) when Mbulelo ‘Oldjohn’ Mabizela moved to Tottenham in 2003-2004. It’s unlikely the Sea Robbers can fetch a number in that region, but there’s no reason why the 2022-2023 PSL Player of the Year shouldn’t command a decent fee. There was reported interest from Monaco in France’s Ligue 1 and Standard Liege in Belgium. They should be looking to recover at least half (R22 million) especially if they can bring Sundowns to the market. The main question there is, do they want to strengthen a rival?
If Pirates get big offers for Saleng again, they have to sell
R40 million, or something in that ball-park, would be a wonderful amount of money for the board to use when securing more local talent. If no single player is bigger than their club, then everyone’s got a price.
Mbokazi is the future of Pirates
19-year-old Mbekezeli Mbokazi kept a clean sheet on debut for Orlando Pirates.
Will Saleng stay or go?
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