Saleng saga again raises questions of player treatment at Pirates
Talk that Monnapule Saleng has been underpaid and undervalued at Pirates will bring back memories of similar complaints from a former star.
In a bombshell report that came to light this past weekend in the Sunday World, Monnapule Saleng’s parents revealed alleged salary woes that are said to have contributed to a state of depression and an increasing desire to leave Orlando Pirates.
Although Saleng remains a highly-regarded player who has been an influential performer in recent years, things have fallen apart at Pirates recently, and he has not featured for the Buccaneers in three months.
Saleng’s parents have suggested that issues with his contract, salary and apparent mistreatment have all led to a breakdown in the relationship with Pirates, while a childhood friend Boikanyo Maine suggested there was a disparity in earnings compared to other players.
“If he was not an important asset, Bafana could not have called him,” Maine was quoted as saying. “We are requesting that Pirates consider what he wants. It’s unfair, imagine getting R70 000 but your contribution in most of the matches speaks volumes, while somebody [else] is getting R500 000.”
Is there a valid history of player mistreatment at Pirates that goes beyond Saleng?
It remains to be seen if there is really truth to these allegations, with Pirates having yet to respond, but it does bring back memories of rather similar complaints that were raised by former star Kermit Erasmus, who spent time at the club between 2023 and 2024.
“There is no thank you in a valued way where you can say that he has been looked after for what he has contributed in his life,” Erasmus said on the show, as shared by @DhlomoV via X.
“I came to this club, and I sacrificed,” he commented in a clip shared on social media last year. “If you’re speaking about money [Erasmus sheds tears]… I sacrificed close to 50% of my salary to come here [from Mamelodi Sundowns in 2023].
“I give everything for this club [Orlando Pirates]. When I arrived, the team was struggling. I’m not saying that I’m an individual that can change everything but with my winning mentality, I can sure contribute to affect things in the right direction.
“And when I arrived, I believe that’s what I’ve done up until I was not allowed to do that anymore, which was obviously the beginning of this year. I just feel that there is no respect in the way things have went, more so in the way I have done things for my career and for this club…
“I can speak a lot on past players. I like to speak a lot about colour also, I don’t want to be a racist about it or anything, but I know that I am coloured. I’ve seen it happen to past players before,” he added.
“I make an example of Daine Klate [former Orlando Pirates winger]. One of the most decorated coloured players in this country. But where is the acknowledgement in the industry of football for what he has contributed. One of the most decorated players for Orlando Pirates. But he is not recognised,” Erasmus concluded.
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