Saleng to play the lead in Soweto derby

Saleng to play the lead in
Soweto derby

Orlando Pirates winger Monnapule Saleng scored and assisted over the weekend – good news for Pirates fans ahead of Saturday’s Soweto derby.

His stocks are rising with each passing week and he could turn out to be a major factor when the Buccaneers take on Kaizer Chiefs at Soccer City this weekend.

He has now scored four goals in his last five games and nine overall for the season, an excellent return in his first campaign in a Pirates’ shirt.

The numbers are even more impressive considering it was not until 1 October that Saleng made his debut for Pirates, playing in the first leg of the MTN8 semi-final against Mamelodi Sundowns that finished 0-0.

That was 10 games into the club’s season. His cup-final winner in the MTN8 will also live long in the memory as it handed Pirates the first piece of silverware of the season.

He has become the ‘main man’ after a fairly low-key campaign the season before on loan at Swallows FC. The winger has shown he has an eye for goal before, netting 13 times for Free State Stars in the second-tier in the 2020/21 campaign, which is what placed him on Pirates’ radar.