With Orlando Pirates expected to unveil a talented winger among new players to be announced by the club in the transfer window, the Siya crew has learnt of how the new recruit almost played for Golden Arrows.
After finishing the 2020/21 season as a top goalscorer in the GladAfrica Championship with his 13 strikes for Free State Stars, Monnapule Saleng is expected to be unveiled at Pirates in preparation of the new season, as reported by the Siya crew, with the indications that a deal has been agreed in principle between the two clubs.
Saleng has been with Ea Lla Koto for two years, having joined the Bethlehem outfit in 2019 from Orbit College FC in the North West.
Saleng's mentor Pogiso Makhoye, who scouted the player as a 17-year-old, has spoken to the Siya crew about the rising star's progress.
"I scouted the boy from Junior Pirates, and we were in the ABC Motsepe League and he was 17 at the time. I took him to Orbit where I worked with him for three seasons and preparing him for the PSL," he said.
Makhoye, who is an IT manager by profession but also hold a CAF B coaching licence, explains how the 23-year-old came close to playing for Abafana Bes'thende under Steve Komphela and newly appointed Pirates technical team member Mandla Ncikazi.
"In 2019, I took him to AmaZulu, but AmaZulu wanted to assess him for their MDC team. I was against the idea of losing the player for an MDC team while he was already playing in the ABC Motsepe League. I viewed that as him taking a step backwards. We spoke to Arrows and the boy was signed on a three-year contract. It was a done deal but when it was supposed to be pre-season, Mato (Madlala, Arrows' chairlady) didn't answer her phone. I organised a friendly game with Free State Stars. It was after that friendly game for Orbit and Free State Stars that the boy was signed by Stars to mark the beginning of his professional career. The boy is very talented. He is quick, hardworking, disciplined and very humble," said Makhoye.
