Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has revealed Monnapule Saleng is training away from the senior team after repeatedly breaching the club’s rules and values.
Saleng was again absent as Sundowns edged Polokwane City 3-2 after extra-time in their MTN8 quarter-final on Saturday, with the result sending the defending champions into the semi-finals.
The former Orlando Pirates winger has not featured for Masandawana this season, and Cardoso provided a detailed explanation when asked about the 27-year-old following Sundowns’ first domestic match of the campaign.
According to the Portuguese coach, Saleng’s situation stems from a series of disciplinary issues that have resulted in the player being separated from the first team for some time.
“Regarding Saleng, the situation is unfortunately very different,” Cardoso said after the match.
“Saleng consecutively broke the rules and values of the locker room and of the club, and in this moment – well not in this moment, for some time already he is not training with the team.”
Cardoso also revealed that Saleng missed a significant occasion during Sundowns’ successful CAF Champions League campaign despite being included in the squad for the second leg of the final.
“Saleng was on the list for the second match of the Champions League [final] and he didn’t appear,” he said.
The winger was subsequently expected to join the club’s pre-season preparations but did not travel with the squad.
“Saleng was on the list to go [pre-season] camp but he did not appear, or he said he would not go,” Cardoso added.
The coach suggested that Sundowns had attempted to support the player but eventually reached a point where maintaining the stability of the squad had to take priority.
“So it’s impossible for us to keep stability with a player you give so much love, even after he systematically failed but is not ready to make the path that the team needs to have,” said Cardoso.
“So the club decided put him separated from the team, he’s not with us right now.”
Saleng joined Sundowns from Pirates in January after an extended period away from the Buccaneers, but his time at Chloorkop has yet to produce a sustained run in the team.
His latest absence now raises further questions about his future at the reigning Betway Premiership champions, particularly with Cardoso making it clear that the player is currently outside his first-team plans.
For Sundowns, attention now turns to the MTN8 semi-finals and their attempt to compete for another trophy on multiple fronts, while Saleng’s next step remains unclear following the coach’s latest revelation.
