Mhlongo offers to meet Saleng as Sundowns future remains uncertain

Questions over Monnapule Saleng’s commitment to Mamelodi Sundowns have intensified, with former midfielder Benson Mhlongo offering to meet the winger in an attempt to establish the reasons behind his ongoing absence from the club’s plans.

Saleng’s situation came under renewed scrutiny after Sundowns manager Miguel Cardoso said the player failed to travel with the squad for the second leg of their CAF Champions League final against AS Rabat in May, despite being included in the team.

The Bloemhof-born winger also reportedly declined to join Sundowns for their pre-season tour of Austria.

Cardoso made the disclosures after Sundowns defeated Polokwane City 3-2 after extra time in an MTN8 quarter-final at Lucas Moripe Stadium last weekend. Saleng has featured intermittently since making a surprise move to Sundowns from Orlando Pirates in January.

The 27-year-old made eight appearances in all competitions for Sundowns last season, having spent the first part of the campaign on loan from Pirates at Orbit College FC.

Mhlongo, who has experience both as a player and coach, says the lack of clarity around Saleng’s circumstances is concerning.

“Saleng’s issue is confusing because nobody is coming out to reveal the real issue. We don’t know if it has to do with money or personal issues,” Mhlongo tells KickOff.

“The last time at Pirates, his issue was money, so this time… maybe he is one of the boys who don’t want to sit on the bench. Nobody knows the truth. Sundowns is an institution that believes in playing in a certain system; players must fit in. Flemming Berg (club sporting director) was brought to Sundowns to implement that system.

“My message to all the players is, remember you are not only paid to play a match, but you are also paid to report for training. You are paid to be a team player. Some players get to start, some sit on the bench, and some watch from the stands.

“When you join Sundowns, you must first evaluate if you are better than the players they already have. If I had joined Pirates in the days of Old-John Mabizela, there was no way I was going to play because Mabizela was in form. It all comes down to timing,” adds the veteran who has seen it all in the game both as a player as well as from a coaching perspective.

Cardoso has previously said Saleng “consecutively broke the rules”, adding to uncertainty about the player’s position within the squad.

Mhlongo believes Saleng must understand the demands of joining a club with Sundowns’ level of competition and structure. He also questioned whether the winger is comfortable with competing for his place or being managed within a defined tactical system.

“For instance, if you go to Sundowns now to play as a right-back, you are taking chances because you are definitely competing against Khuliso Mudau. Some agents are not honest with their players; they are just chasing transactions.

“I just wish to have a meeting with this boy so I can ask him what is wrong. To find out if he wants to play in all the games, or if he is a player who doesn’t like to be restricted, or if he is a talented player who is not coachable.

“We need to teach these boys that in big teams, you need to be coachable. It’s not like at smaller teams, where you are given the freedom to play as you wish,” adds Mhlongo.