Former Orlando Pirates captain and revered defender, Lucky Lekgwathi, has expressed his belief that winger Monnapule Saleng possesses the necessary attributes to succeed internationally.
The legendary Buccaneer, who donned jersey number 14 for an impressive 14-year tenure at the club, has lauded Saleng as the fittest player who displays humility and readily accepts advice.
“He can carry Pirates. I first met him in Polokwane, and we took a picture together and engaged in various discussions. But most importantly, I explained to him the significance of wearing that number 14 jersey,” said Lekgwathi as quoted by The Sowetan.
“I shared the history associated with that number and mentioned that there were previous wearers who failed to represent it adequately. I also inquired about his off-season activities, and he informed me about his extra training regimen. I encouraged him to continue with it, enabling him to stay ahead of other players. When the season commenced, he proved to be both lethal and unstoppable.”
The 46-year-old Lekgwathi emphasized the importance of such additional training during his own playing career, as it transformed him into a physically fit footballer. He revealed employing this tactic during his early days as a defender at Ria Stars and admitted to intensifying his training whenever he knew he would face Pirates.
Monnapule Saleng against Sundowns today:
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) October 22, 2022
🅰 Assists: 1
⚽ Goals: 2
🏆 Man of the Match
10/10 performance in a big game!#MTN8 pic.twitter.com/P482gTyYP9
“I would jog from home to our training venue, repeatedly ascending and descending the mountains of Limpopo. When match day arrived, I was incredibly fit,” he recalled.
“I initially started as a striker. Playing for a local football team in Soshanguve, people in my neighbourhood feared me due to my skills. They knew I posed a significant goal-scoring threat.”
“When I joined Real Rovers, I was converted into a defender by my coach. Initially, I resisted the change, but he persisted until I started enjoying it.”
Soon after, unexpectedly, Pirates, the club he had long admired and favoured for its on-pitch success, crossed his path. At the age of 24, football administrator and former club owner Ria Ledwaba had approached Pirates chairman Irvin Khoza to secure Lekgwathi’s signing. He subsequently joined the victorious team after the Premier Soccer League acquired Ria Stars for R8 million, reducing the number of teams.
“Mama Ria informed me that the club’s status was being sold, so I was to meet Khoza the following day. I travelled with a fellow teammate from Polokwane to Johannesburg. We arrived at 7 am, but the chairman only approached us at 7 pm. However, the wait was worthwhile. He signed us the next day. I am forever grateful for that opportunity,” he recounted his entry into the club.
“My first match was against Moroka Swallows, which used to be my favorite team before I decided to support the Buccaneers. We triumphed 5-0. I cannot stress enough how amazing it was at Pirates. Veteran Jerry Sikhosana always told me that I would play for a big team, but I never envisioned it would come to me in the manner it did,” Lekgwathi concluded.
