Orlando Pirates are carrying a big responsibility to South African football at large with the saga involving Monnapule Saleng, if the sentiment by a PSL legend is anything to go by.
The silence from Pirates on their legal matter with Saleng, or from the player’s representatives on the matter, is defeaning.
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There is a veil of secrecy, as if to delay whatever outcome there is ahead of the new season, as the Soweto giants were without the winger jetting out of OR Tambo International to Spain on Monday.
Media reports have been that the player was unsettled by financial disagreements with the club, hence he went AWOL during last season.
Added to that, the sentiment from a majority of legends in the game was that no player is bigger than a club and that Saleng should respect his contract.
Some sections of the fanbase have resigned themselves to losing the 27-year-old if needs be and are ready to move on.
However, according to Kaizer Chiefs legend Baloyi, Mzansi outfits are not doing enough to protect the livelihoods of players to ensure longevity at one club.
"We have a long way to go on how to make footballers' lives better. Right now, the clubs, as much as they say they're doing their bit, but I believe they are not doing enough," Baloyi said on iDiski Dine YouTube Channel.
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"I always say to people, look at Jabu Pule. He played for Chiefs for four years, a couple of years at Pirates, but people know him (from) Chiefs. And I always say, imagine Chiefs did everything right to look after Jabu as a human being, they would have had him for 10 years.
"The same way you have him for 15, 20 years. But the attitude of football is, 'We'll make another one', that's the attitude."
The Saleng saga will continue to play out during the pre-season friendlies in Spain, with interest on whether he will take any part, although KickOff.com has been led to believe that the Bloemhof-born star attacker will travel later this week to Marbella.
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