Monnapule Saleng Explained

Monnapule Saleng
Fullname:Monnapule Saleng
Birth Date:13 March 1999
Height:1.77 m
Position:Right winger
Currentclub:Orlando Pirates
Clubnumber:14
Youthyears1:
Youthclubs1:
Years1:–2019
Clubs1:Matatwngnnt College
Caps1:27
Goals1:18
Years2:2019–2021
Clubs2:Free State Stars
Caps2:52
Goals2:17
Years3:2021–
Clubs3:Orlando Pirates
Caps3:39
Goals3:14
Years4:2021–2022
Clubs4:Moroka Swallows (loan)
Caps4:22
Goals4:2
Nationalyears1:2021–
Nationalteam1:South Africa
Nationalcaps1:9
Nationalgoals1:3
Club-Update:30 June 2024
Nationalteam-Update:17:29, 5 December 2022 (UTC)

Monnapule Saleng (born 13 March 1999) is a South African professional soccer player who plays as a winger for Orlando Pirates and the South Africa national team. He was named MTN 8 Last Man Standing and DSTV Premiership Players' Player Of The Season at the 2023 PSL Awards.

Club career

Having started his career at Orbit College in the SAFA Second Division, Saleng joined Free State Stars in 2019.[1] [2] He was the top scorer in the 2020–21 National First Division, scoring 13 goals in 29 matches.[3]

Saleng signed for South African Premier Division club Orlando Pirates in July 2021, but spent the 2021–22 season on loan at Moroka Swallows, where he scored twice in 22 league appearances.[4] He returned to Pirates for the 2022–23 season, where he became a first-team regular, scoring five goals in eight matches in the opening half of the season.[5]

International career

Saleng was part of the South Africa squad at the 2021 COSAFA Cup, starting in the opening 1–0 victory against Botswana.[6] In total, he made 6 appearances as South Africa won the tournament.[7]

In November 2022, Saleng was included in the South Africa squad for two friendly fixtures against Angola and Mozambique.

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNedbank CupMTN8ContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Moroka Swallows FC2021–2022South African Premier Division222201040292
Orlando Pirates2022–2023South African Premier Division221151333015
2023–2024South African Premier Division 17341411010275
Total3914927410105620
Career total61161128410508622

Notes and References

  1. Web site: McLennan . Anthony . 10 November 2022 . Has Orlando Pirates' Saleng become the next Lorch? . 5 December 2022 . Goal.com.
  2. Web site: South Africa - M. Saleng - Profile with news, career statistics and history . 5 December 2022 . Soccerway.
  3. News: Msomi . Smiso . 28 October 2022 . Saleng takes PSL campaign by storm . . 5 December 2022 . PressReader.
  4. Web site: Ditlhobolo . Austin . 16 November 2022 . Saleng: Bafana Bafana winger explains why he had to leave Orlando Pirates for Soweto rival . 5 December 2022 . Goal.com.
  5. News: Baleka . Mihlali . 16 November 2022 . Saleng eager to be a Bafana regular . The Star . 5 December 2022 . PressReader.
  6. Web site: Appolis . Dylan . 6 July 2021 . Bafana Bafana off to winning start in Cosafa Cup opener . 5 December 2022 . FourFourTwo.
  7. Web site: 19 July 2021 . Bafana Bafana are Cosafa Cup 2021 Champions . 5 December 2022 . sapeople.com.