Pirates provide temporary relief for Monnapule Saleng
Orlando Pirates have provided temporary relief to Monnapule Saleng, permitting him to feature for Bafana Bafana in the CHAN qualifiers. Saleng’s absence from the Bucs squad in recent weeks has raised question marks over his future.
Saleng has not featured for the Buccaneers since early December, and the reasons for this absence have been the subject of speculation.
The last time the 26-year-old winger played was against Al Ahly on 7 December 2024 in a CAF Champions League group C match. It ended in a goalless draw.
That fixture was his 13th appearance for the Bucs this season, and he has five goals to his name. Last month, reports indicated that the Pirates had rejected his move to the Middle East. However, the club has since denied these allegations.
FARPost can confirm that Saleng has not been training with the club lately. However, it remains unclear whether this was due to a prohibition from the club or a personal decision on his part to cease training. He is currently in Bloemhof, Boitumelong, his North West hometown.
The former Free State Stars attacker is out of contract in June, although the club has the option to extend.
MONNAPULE SALENG RELIEF FOR HELMAN MKHALELE
Nonetheless, Pirates have allowed Saleng to join the national team. The club reportedly offered Saleng to Helman Mkhalele, who will take charge of the CHAN. Mkhalele will be relieved to have an experienced player on his team, although concerns will be his match fitness.
Mkhalele, who serves as Hugo Broos’s assistant at Bafana, will guide the team against Egypt in a two-legged CHAN qualifier.
The CHAN tournament, originally scheduled for this month, was postponed. CAF moved the tournament, which features domestic-based players, to August to ensure that the infrastructure and facilities in the co-hosting countries of Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda meet the necessary standards.
As a result, countries such as South Africa and Egypt, which had initially declined to participate, were given another opportunity now that the new dates are more favourable for them.
However, South Africa faces a challenge in securing players for the qualifier as it comes right in the middle of the Betway Premiership programme. CHAN is not on the FIFA calendar, and clubs are not obliged to release their players.
It explains why Mkhalele has to rely on players like Saleng, Jamie Webber, who has not featured this season for Sekhukhune United, Sammy Seabi, Mamelodi Sundowns quartet of Terrence Mashego, Neo Maema, Kutlwano Letlhaku and Jody February.
Mkhalele has also called out-of-favour Kaizer Chiefs defender Bongani Sam. The competition winner will receive R62 million.
Bafana host Egypt in Bloemfontein on Friday afternoon before visiting them in Cairo on 9 March, 2025. The winner of this match will proceed to the second round of the CHAN qualifiers. This round will be played in May 2025.
CHAN 2024 GROUPS
• Group A: Kenya (co-hosts}, Morocco, Angola, DR Congo, Zambia.
• Group B: Tanzania (co-hosts), Madagascar, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic.
• Group C: Uganda (co-hosts), Niger, Guinea, qualifier two, qualifier one.
• Group D: Senegal, Congo-Brazzaville, Sudan, Nigeria.
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