Today’s Orlando Pirates news wrap covers the dying embers of the Monnapule Saleng saga and Hugo Broos’ beef with a striker.
Will Broos select Tshegofatso Mabasa for Bafana in 2026, or has that ship sailed?
Meanwhile, Tshepang Moremi is starting to prove that there’s life after Saleng.
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Moremi proves there’s life after Saleng at Orlando Pirates
These days, one goal is inevitably enough for Pirates to win matches, because of their ability to keep clean sheets. Tshepang Moremi’s sixth-minute strike was enough to seal all three points against Polokwane on Wednesday night. The 1-0 win meant it’s now six clean sheets on the bounce in the Betway Premiership. Moremi now has five goals in 12 appearances across all competitions, including a match-winning brace off the bench against Stellenbosch in the MTN8 final. With Oswin Appollis also on the books, it seems there’s no way back for Monnapule Saleng.
Saleng fell off after shining for Orlando Pirates
Monnapule Saleng’s exit from Pirates turned into a bit of a soap opera. The club’s refusal to name the winger in matchday squads was clear evidence that relations had broken down. Saleng was the PSL Player of the Year in 2022-2023 after a dazzling campaign where he scored 15 goals and supplied 11 assists in 30 matches across all competitions, including 11 goals and eight assists in just 22 league matches. However, his stock has steadily declined ever since, and in 2025-2026 Pirates loaned him out to his former club, Orbit College.Â
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Is Hugo Broos going to bury the hatchet with Mabasa?
It seems clear now that there’s a personal issue between prolific Pirates marksman Tshegofatso Mabasa and Bafana boss Hugo Broos. Evidence Makgopa is now a regular in Broos’ squads, but 2023-2024 PSL Golden Boot winner Mabasa is out in the cold. The 29-year-old has already scored in three separate competitions for the Sea Robbers this term.