Orbit College coach on Saleng: ‘Team plays better without him”

In a candid and surprising admission, Orbit College FC head coach Pogiso Makhoye has suggested that his team’s younger players perform better without the presence of star loan signing Monnapule Saleng.

Saleng, who rejoined his boyhood club in July 2025 on a season-long loan from Orlando Pirates, was meant to be the key to revitalising Orbit’s attack. The move came after a difficult period for the 27-year-old, who was sidelined from the Pirates squad since December of last year.

Despite his high-profile return, Saleng has featured in four of Orbit’s five Betway Premiership matches this season and has yet to register a goal or an assist.

Coach Makhoye on Saleng’s Form

Makhoye did not mince words when discussing Saleng’s contribution to the team. “I think he’s not the Saleng that we used to see at Pirates,” Makhoye told Metro FM on Tuesday night. “He’s still struggling. He hasn’t given us much, especially in the four games that he has played, as he has no assists and no goals.”

The coach went on to make a striking observation, noting that the team’s performance against his parent club, Orlando Pirates, was particularly strong in Saleng’s absence.

“Even when we played against Pirates, and he was not part of the team, I felt the youngsters did very well without him,” he said.

While Makhoye acknowledged the need to be patient with the player, he stressed that the team’s needs must come first. “We will help him adjust to the team, and we are patient with him,” he stated. “As much as we are patient with him, we need to put the team first.”

The Challenge Facing Saleng

Makhoye believes that Saleng’s struggles are both physical and mental. The pressure of being the team’s marquee player at a smaller club, where he is expected to be a leader, is a significant challenge.

“At Pirates, you had about 15 stars playing alongside you, and here, everyone is looking up to you,” Makhoye explained. “I think that weight on his shoulders is also very difficult for him because he has not been playing since last season.”

The coach is hopeful that the upcoming FIFA break will give Saleng the time he needs to recover and integrate fully with the team. Orbit College FC is currently sitting at 15th place on the Betway Premiership log with just three points from five matches.

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