‘I hope in years to come he will come back’

Former Orlando Pirates captain Lucky Lekgwathi hopes Monnapule Saleng could return to the club after his loan spell with Orbit College.

The 28-year-old winger is currently on loan to newly promoted North West-based team. Having featured only in the first half of last season, Saleng was sidelined for months due to off-field issues related to a salary dispute, according to reports.

Lekgwathi has encouraged the speedy winger to make a success at Orbit and return to Orlando Pirates as a better player

“It was difficult for the boy, I wanted to talk to him but I didn’t get an opportunity to speak to him and it’s football, he can bounce back,” Lekgwathi told iDiski Times.

“Yes, he was at a big team and now going go Orbit, let him go, to redeem himself and hope in years to come he will come back to play for the team again, even if it’s not Orlando Pirates…

“For me, I think he’s not a small team player. He is a big team player, and I was happy to see him playing at Orlando Pirates, wearing my number 14, continuing the legacy of that number 14 – my heart was sore after hearing the news he’s leaving Pirates.

Saleng last played for Orlando Pirates in December

“I hope one day he comes back to the team because it’s a loan… so my boy Saleng – I wish to see you one day coming back to Pirates,” he said.

With Saleng on loan, the Buccaneers have brought in Tshepang Moremi and Oswin Appollis in his position. It remains to be seen if the ex-Swallows star will get recalled in the next months.