Orlando Pirates have issued a statement addressing the recent rumours about Monnapule Saleng and Patrick Maswanganyi, providing much-needed clarity on the ongoing situation. This comes after widespread reports suggested that Saleng had a fallout with the club’s management and was allegedly blocked from moving to a club in Saudi Arabia.
The 26-year-old winger started the season in strong form, playing a key role in helping Pirates secure their third consecutive MTN8 trophy. Meanwhile, Maswanganyi has reportedly attracted interest from a Portuguese club, with some outlets claiming that a €40 million (R40 million) bid had been made for the midfielder.
In response, the club firmly denied these reports in a statement released on Wednesday.
Full Statement from Orlando Pirates:
“As Orlando Pirates Football Club, we have noted with concern the growing trend of misinformation circulating on social media and certain media outlets regarding alleged offers for some of our players. While the Club typically refrains from responding to unfounded rumours designed to create sensationalism and clickbait, the persistence of these unsubstantiated claims compels us to set the record straight.
The misinformation started with a fabricated story about Monnapule Saleng, alleging that the Club had blocked a lucrative transfer to a Middle Eastern team. Initially, we chose to ignore this as just another false narrative to explain the player’s temporary absence from the squad. However, the story has gained unwarranted traction and has even been picked up by some mainstream media outlets.
Here are the facts:
Monnapule Saleng:
Orlando Pirates Football Club categorically denies ever receiving any offer from a Middle Eastern club for Saleng’s services. On 13 January 2025, Kickoff.co.za published a story claiming that an agent, Rui Frois, met with a “high-ranking” Pirates official to discuss Saleng’s availability. Let it be clear:
- The Club does not conduct its business in shopping malls.
- No official from Orlando Pirates Football Club has ever spoken to Mr. Rui Frois regarding this matter.
Patrick Maswanganyi:
On 20 January 2025, Briefly News Sports published an article titled, “Portuguese Club Eyes Bid for R40 Million-Rated Orlando Pirates Star.” Once again, the Club categorically rejects this claim as mere gossip. No such offer has been presented to the Club.
It is deeply troubling that these baseless stories not only mislead the public but also disrupt the focus of our players and destabilize the team. This is entirely unacceptable.
As a professional organisation, Orlando Pirates Football Club remains committed to conducting business with integrity and transparency. We strongly urge media outlets and individuals to verify information before publishing, as false reporting not only harms our players and the Club but also undermines the credibility of the platforms involved.
We thank our supporters for their unwavering trust and encourage them to rely on official channels for accurate updates.”
Orlando Pirates have set the record straight, clearing up the confusion surrounding the Saleng and Maswanganyi rumours. Fans are reminded to stay tuned to official sources for the most accurate and reliable updates regarding the club’s players and operations.
