Monnapule Saleng’s saga highlights South African football’s struggle with mental health awareness
The Monnapule Saleng saga at Orlando Pirates highlights the ongoing stigma and lack of serious attention towards mental health issues in South African football, as evidenced by the reluctance to address his mental state despite his prolonged absence and underperformance. Picture: BackpagePix
Image: BACKPAGEPIX
One thing that the Monnapule Saleng saga at Orlando Pirates has shown us is that local football does not treat mental health issues seriously.
The fact that no one has actually come out and confirmed that Saleng has had struggles with mental health is testament to this.
In fact, last week Saleng’s agent Karabo Tshabuse, of P-Management Sport, was careful to not confirm or deny that Saleng had mental health issues by saying on the Behind the Boot podcast: "So, we find ourselves now having to explain a season where people were just ruthless. I then decided I’m not going to comment because I can’t say my client needs the mental fitness to be where his physical fitness is.”
The 27-year-old did not play for his club for over six months, and he has since been loaned out to fellow Betway Premiership side Orbit College FC by Pirates. However, his play has still been under par with coach Pogiso Makhoye voicing concerns about his performances.
Saleng’s Absence Highlights Mental Health Stigma in South African Football
At no point since December when Saleng was first left out of the Pirates was he confirmed as injured. To clarify, there’s no evidence to suggest he was at any point not physically fit.
If you read between the lines, it means his mental state was the problem. But nobody connected with the player seems to want to admit that. There’s clearly still an alarming stigma attached to mental health issues in SA, even though it’s just as real and serious for a football player as a dodgy hamstring.
Insights from the SuperSport Documentary Giants
The closest the public got to any real insight was the SuperSport documentary Giants, in which there is a short dressing room clip where Saleng reveals his mental state.
In a typical locker room speech given by then-coach Jose Riveiro, he turns to Saleng and asks: Are you okay? Saleng then responds: “No, I’m not okay.”
The documentary, though, aired after Saleng left the club, and his absence from the side for months while physically fit led to rampant speculation. There were even reports of a salary dispute and of a failed transfer to Egyptian giants Al Ahly.
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