Monnapule Saleng Unfazed by Missing Orbit Clash Against Orlando Pirates

Orbit College winger Monnapule Saleng will not feature when his side faces Orlando Pirates on Tuesday night, but the on-loan star remains calm about the situation.

As part of the loan agreement that brought Saleng, Yanga Madiba, and Thuso Moleleki to Orbit from the Buccaneers, the trio are barred from playing against their parent club. This means Orbit, nicknamed the Mswenko Boys, will head to Orlando Stadium without three players who know Pirates well.

Saleng has been a regular starter since the beginning of the campaign, featuring in every match for Orbit. Moleleki has only had limited minutes, while Madiba is yet to make his debut. Losing Saleng for the Pirates clash is a big blow, but insiders say the winger is not frustrated by the restriction.

“He’s not affected at all,” a source close to the player told the Siya crew. “He knew about the agreement from the start, so it doesn’t come as a surprise. His focus is on helping Orbit in other matches and using those opportunities to get back to his best. He’s a humble boy and all he wants is to keep improving and grow his career.”

Orbit currently sit in 12th place with three points from their opening three league matches. They recorded a win over Siwelele FC but suffered defeats to AmaZulu and Sekhukhune United. Pirates have also had a mixed start, managing just one league victory, although they will enter the tie with confidence after eliminating Mamelodi Sundowns from the MTN8.

While Saleng will miss the chance to face his former teammates, his attention is on the bigger picture. With a long season ahead, he is determined to play a central role for Orbit and use the loan spell to rebuild momentum in his career.