Orlando Pirates: Monnapule Saleng continues to break barriers

Monnapule Saleng continued to break barriers as he single-handedly destroyed Swallows in the team’s 4-1 win on Friday night.

Monnapule Saleng of Orlando Pirates during DStv Premiership 2022/23 match between Orlando Pirates and Golden Arrows on the 14 January 2022 at Orlando Stadium Image: Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix

Orlando Pirates attacker Monnapule Saleng continued to break barriers as he single-handedly destroyed Swallows in the team’s 4-1 win on Friday night.

Saleng netted his first hat-trick in the Pirates colours, and therefore, matching a number of records set by players who came and left before him.

According to OptaJabu, Saleng joined an exclusive club of two players to score a league hat-trick away from home in the history of the PSL.

The left-footer joined Pollen Ndlanya (hat-trick away to AmaZulu in 2002) and Gabadinho Mhango (hat-trick away to Polokwane City in 2020).

Furthermore, OptaJabu reports that Saleng is only the eighth Pirates’ player to score a hat-trick of league goals since the inception of the PSL in 1996.

Orlando Pirates Monnapule Saleng — Monnapule Saleng’s hat-trick against Swallows saw him join a select group of Orlando Pirates players to have done so away from home. Photo: Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix

MONNAPULE SALENG EMULATES MHANGO AT ORLANDO PIRATES

Meanwhile, Saleng emulated Mhango by becoming the first player to net double figures for goals since the Malawi international during the 2019-20, said OptaJabu.

This means it has taken Pirates almost four years to have a player to score 10+ goals across all competitions for them in a single season.

Saleng has been in red-hot form for Pirates so much so that his name has already been bandied about in the debate for PSL’s Player of the Season award.