By Michael Madyira
Orlando Pirates winger Monnapule Saleng became the first Buccaneers player to score a hat-trick since Gabadinho Mhango’s 2020 treble.
Saleng hit three goals past Swallows FC goalkeeper Thakasani Mbanjwa as Pirates cruised to a 4-1 Premier Soccer League victory at Dobsonville Stadium on Friday evening.
The 25-year-old first struck six minutes into the match, before returning to score on the hour mark and then wrapped up his hat-trick with a stoppage-time goal.
It was a match Saleng ended a long period of waiting for a Pirates player to grab three goals in one match since Mhango’s exploits against Polokwane City on 7 January 2020.
The Sea Robbers then went for two full seasons without witnessing any of their players managing a hat-trick.
But Saleng is now arguably Pirates’ best performer this season with his goal-scoring exploits.
Apart from Friday’s three goals, he keeps on following Mhango’s patch by becoming the first Pirates player to reach double figures after the Malawian scored 17 goals in all competitions during the 2019/20 season.
The ex-Free State Stars has now scored 12 times across all competitions while providing four assists this season.
After Saleng only started playing in October, coach Jose Riveiro explains how he ended up investing his trust in the winger he was initially sidelined.
“We try to create an environment and structure to give space to all talented players in our team,” said Riveiro after Friday’s match.
“We used to put our eyes on the players that made the last pass to the net. We want to see them as part of the end picture and structure that will give us the possibilities to celebrate games like this [against Swallows] more frequently.”
Despite disappearing during the Soweto Derby against Kaizer Chiefs last week, Saleng has shown the capacity to influence the Buccaneers’ course of the season.
Even after starting his season late, he is already being mentioned as a contender for the PSL Footballer of the Season award.
Pirates are involved in a brutal battle for a top-two finish against second-placed SuperSport who have five points more than them, as well as Kaizer Chiefs who have the same number of points as them.
Pictured above: Monnapule Saleng against Swallows FC
Image source: Orlando Pirates
