Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has shed light on Monnapule Saleng’s continued absence from the first-team set-up, revealing that the attacker has been training away from the group after a series of breaches of the club’s rules and values.
Saleng joined Sundowns from Orlando Pirates last season after establishing himself as one of the most exciting attacking players in South African football. His arrival at Chloorkop was met with considerable expectation, particularly given the impact he had made during his time at Pirates.
His rise at Pirates, however, was followed by a difficult period that ultimately saw him fall out of favour at the club. Saleng subsequently spent time on loan at Orbit College before completing his move to the Brazilians.
His difficult final chapter in Mayfair was also accompanied by reports of personal challenges, including speculation around his mental wellbeing. However, those claims remain unconfirmed, and it would be premature to draw a direct link between that period and his current situation in Chloorkop.
There was hope that a fresh start at Sundowns would allow Saleng to rediscover the form that had made him such a standout performer at Pirates. Instead, his time at the club has been disrupted by disciplinary issues and his continued absence from the first team.
Cardoso confirmed that Saleng has been separated from the squad for some time, explaining that the decision followed what he described as repeated breaches of the club’s standards.
“Saleng consecutively broke the rules and values of the locker room and of the club,” Cardoso said.
The Portuguese coach also revealed that the former Free State Stars attacker was included in the squad for Sundowns’ second CAF Champions League match but did not attend. He was subsequently expected to join the team’s camp but indicated that he would not go.
“For us, it’s impossible to keep stability in a player that we gave so much love, even after systematic mistakes, but that is not really making the best that the team at this level has to have,” Cardoso explained.
Sundowns have consequently opted to keep Saleng away from the first-team group as the club seeks to maintain the standards and discipline expected within its dressing room.
The situation is particularly unfortunate given the trajectory of Saleng’s career. At Pirates, he emerged as a player capable of producing decisive moments and became one of the club’s most exciting attacking talents. His subsequent struggles made his departure from the Soweto giants increasingly complicated, before he eventually moved to Sundowns in search of a fresh start.
Instead, the 28-year-old now finds himself on the outside of a Sundowns squad competing at the highest level domestically and continentally.
For a player who once appeared destined for the highest levels of the South African game, Saleng’s latest setback represents another difficult chapter.
The question now is whether the relationship between player and club can be repaired, or whether Sundowns and Saleng will ultimately have to find another solution.
For now, Cardoso’s comments make it clear that his absence is not simply a footballing decision. The club has taken a firm stance on what it considers repeated breaches of its internal standards, leaving Saleng to work his way back from the outside.
Written by: Sandile Ndumo
