Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos believes rumors of Monnapule Saleng being courted by European clubs caused the player’s form to dip this season.
Saleng was a revelation for Orlando Pirates in the 2022/23 season, scoring a career-high 17 goals on his way to earning a deserved PSL Players’ Player of the Season Awrd.
The diminutive attacker has failed to regain that form in the 2023/24 campaign, scoring three league goals so far. Saleng scored twice in the Soweto Derby as
Saleng scored twice in the Soweto derby for the Buccaneers as they won 3-2 against Kaizer Chiefs.
Saleng had been a regular part of Broos squad when he was on top form but a decline in form meant he was omitted from the AFCON squad.
Broos insists the transfer rumours linking him to European clubs caused his decline in form.
“Saleng is a good player but I think there was too much publicity that he would go to Europe and he thought ‘it’s done’.
“When you see Messi and Ronaldo, they play every week, they can’t afford a bad game. This is the mentality you need. I hope Saleng understood what he did before was not the right thing to do,” Broos said on SABC 1.
Broos, who was in attendance at the FNB Stadium for the Derby on Saturday, was happy to see Saleng rediscover his magic touch.
“He scored twice and played a good game, so we will watch now and see if he goes on, then maybe he can be with Bafana,” said Broos, who enjoyed a thrilling derby that ended 3-2 to the Buccaneers.
“It was a very good derby, last year it was really boring. On Saturday we saw two teams, certainly Pirates, who wanted to win the derby, and they (Pirates) deserved to win it because it was a good performance.
“There has to be more of this in the PSL. I know it is not possible when Cape Town Spurs play Chippa, it is not the same. (But) this is what top teams have to do, to play good football,” added Broos.
