With unsubstantiated rumours emerging that Orlando Pirates forward Monnapule Saleng might be making a move to Kaizer Chiefs, one former Buccaneers player thinks that would not be a good fit.
The 27-year-old Saleng was believed to have been left out of the side for months due to a salary dispute, although the club has not confirmed this as they remained tight-lipped on the situation.
As one of the best wingers in the country and not known to be nursing any kind of injury, his absence was keenly felt by Pirates supporters this past season.
Saleng was last in action for Pirates on December 7 when they hosted Al Ahly in a CAF Champions League match at Orlando Stadium, which ended in a goalless draw.
Saleng, however, was selected for Bafana Bafana in their African Nations Championship (Chan) qualifier in Bloemfontein in early March and, by all accounts, delivered a top performance.
Former Pirates midfielder Benedict Vilakazi, who spent the majority of his career (1999 – 2007) at the Soweto Giants, weighed in on the Saleng issue.
Vilakazi Questions Saleng’s Fit for Chiefs: A Comparison with Sirino, Billiat, and Dolly
“Is he [Saleng] that type of a player that can really play for Chiefs, the way they are playing? I don’t think so. An example, look at [Gaston] Sirino, he’s no more the Sirino we knew at Sundowns, because of the type of players surrounding him,” Vilakazi said on omniaudioafrica YouTube Channel.
“What’s happening to Sirino now is the same thing that happened to Khama Billiat. The same thing that happened to Keagan Dolly, and now it’s happening to Sirino. You cannot have Sirino alone and not have other good players surrounding him.”
Even if Saleng did make the move to the rival club, it would take good old-fashioned hard work, and patience, to make it work, believed Vilakazi.
“Obviously, he’s going to have a lot on his shoulders. So he needs support. So even if Saleng goes and plays for Chiefs, he’s going to struggle like Sirino is struggling because there’s no core at Chiefs that is very strong, that when everyone comes in (they fit in) like puzzles. Those puzzles at Chiefs are scattered.”
@Michael_Sherman
Sport
