Miguel Cardoso confirms Monnapule Saleng is training away from Mamelodi Sundowns first team

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso says Monnapule Saleng has been separated from the senior squad after repeatedly breaching the club’s rules and values.

The 27-year-old winger was absent once again on Saturday as the defending champions beat Polokwane City 3-2 after extra time in their MTN8 quarter-final at Lucas Moripe Stadium. The victory sent Sundowns through to the semi-finals.

Saleng has not played for Masandawana this season, and Cardoso offered an extensive explanation of the player’s situation after Sundowns’ first domestic match of the campaign.

The Portuguese coach said a series of disciplinary problems had led to Saleng being removed from first-team training for an extended period.

“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 explained that Saleng had also missed an important occasion during Sundowns’ successful CAF Champions League campaign. Although the winger had been included in the squad for the second leg of the final, he did not attend.

“Saleng was on the list for the second match of the Champions League [final] and he didn’t appear,” he said.

The player was then expected to report for the club’s pre-season camp, 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.

According to Cardoso, Sundowns had tried to help Saleng, but the club ultimately decided the stability of the squad had to take precedence. The coach said the player had repeatedly failed to follow the path required by the team.

“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 Orlando Pirates in January, having previously spent an extended period away from the Buccaneers. However, he has yet to establish a regular place in the Sundowns side since moving to Chloorkop.

His latest absence leaves further uncertainty over his future with the reigning Betway Premiership champions. Cardoso’s comments make clear that Saleng is currently outside the coach’s first-team plans.

Sundowns will now focus on the MTN8 semi-finals as they continue their bid to challenge for more silverware on several fronts. Saleng’s next move, meanwhile, remains uncertain following Cardoso’s disclosure.