Orbit College General Manager Matome Kganakga has cleared the air on head coach Pogiso Makhonye and winger Monnapule Saleng’s relationship.
This comes at the back of a fake statement that circulated on Thursday, suggesting that the club was apologising to the Pirates loanee for the comments made by the coach in a radio interview two weeks ago.
The coach was asked about the player’s contribution since his loan move, and he expressed his thoughts on the 27-year-old’s performances with the Betway Premiership rookies. Saleng has played four matches for Orbit and has no assists and goals so far.
Kganakga told iDiski Times that people blew the coach’s comments out of proportion and that there is no bad blood between the two, saying they have a father-and-son relationship.
“The issue is how people interpreted what the coach said, and this is a parent and child relationship,” Kganakga told iDiski Times.
“I don’t know if people are aware that coach Pogiso raised Saleng. So, it must not be taken out of context. It is his child and his way of addressing him will not be the same as other players.
“We got a lot of interview requests regarding this issue but one thing I can tell you straight is that it’s a father and child relationship, that’s it, so people don’t understand.
“It’s a father and child relationship; there is no bad blood between them. And Saleng has made it public that he sees coach Pogiso as a father even before he came to us. It’s just that certain things were blown out of proportion.”
Asked if the club is happy with Saleng’s performances and contribution so far Kganakga said with the player having not enjoyed game-time at his parent club prior to the loan it is understandable why he hasn’t hit the ground running. However, the coaches are working with Saleng to help him to return to his best.
“The coaches are working with him and helping him to gain his fitness,” added Kganakga.
“We all know that he has not been playing for long. So that’s basically that. Like I said a parent and a coach just indicated his dissatisfactions but that does not mean there is no good relationship, no.
“And he will be helped to recover his fitness for everyone to see him for the player that he used to be, that’s it.”
Orbit travel to Chippa United in the league next Tuesday.
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