Monnapule Saleng excluded from Mamelodi Sundowns first team after repeated breaches, says Miguel Cardoso

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso says Monnapule Saleng has been separated from the first team after repeatedly breaking the rules and values of the club and its dressing room.

The African champions began their domestic campaign on Saturday with a 3-2 victory over Polokwane City after extra time, a result that sent them through to the semi-finals of the MTN8.

However, Saleng was a notable omission from the Sundowns squad for the match. Cardoso has now confirmed that the forward has not been training with the senior team for some time after a series of disciplinary issues.

“Regarding Saleng, the situation is unfortunately different. Saleng consecutively broke the rules and values of the locker room and of the club and for some time already he is not training with the team,” Cardoso told media after the game.

The coach said Saleng had also failed to join the squad on previous occasions, including for a Champions League match and a training camp.

“Just for you to understand, Saleng was on the list for the second match of the Champions League and he did not appear.

“Saleng was on the list to go on camp, he didn’t appear or he said he would not go. So it’s important for us to keep stability with a player that we gave so much love even after systematic mistakes, but is not willing to make the path a team in this level has to have.

“The club decided to put him separately from the team and he is not working with us now.

Cardoso’s comments came after Sundowns survived a difficult opening domestic fixture against Polokwane City. The Pretoria side needed extra time to secure a 3-2 win and progress in the MTN8, having entered the competition as African champions.

The result marked the start of Sundowns’ domestic campaign, but the club’s handling of Saleng provided the main talking point after the game. Cardoso said the decision to move the player away from the first-team group was taken by the club in an effort to protect stability within the squad.

The coach also acknowledged the relationship between the club and Saleng, saying Sundowns had continued to support him despite what he described as repeated mistakes. His comments indicated, however, that the club believes the player has not accepted the standards required to remain part of a team competing at this level.

Saleng was therefore absent as Sundowns began their pursuit of success in the MTN8. Cardoso’s explanation confirmed that the omission was not simply a selection decision, with the player currently training separately from the first team.