Cardoso Breaks Silence on Saleng’s Sundowns Exile and Reveals Why He Was Dropped
Monnapule Saleng’s future at Mamelodi Sundowns has been thrown into fresh doubt after head coach Miguel Cardoso revealed why the winger has been separated from the club’s first team.
Cardoso broke his silence on the situation after Sundowns’ dramatic 3-2 MTN8 victory over Polokwane City on Saturday night, confirming that Saleng is no longer training with the senior squad following a series of incidents involving the club’s rules and standards.
The Portuguese coach’s comments offer the clearest explanation yet for the increasingly unusual situation surrounding the former Orlando Pirates star.
Saleng joined Sundowns during the January transfer window last season, but his spell at the club has now been overshadowed by uncertainty over his place in Cardoso’s plans.
According to Cardoso, the decision to remove Saleng from the first team was not based on a single incident.
Instead, the coach said the winger had repeatedly breached the values and rules expected inside the Sundowns dressing room.
“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 reporters.
Saleng missed key Sundowns commitments
Cardoso also pointed to specific incidents that contributed to the club’s decision.
The coach said Saleng failed to report after being selected for Sundowns’ second CAF Champions League match. He also said the player refused to attend the club’s training camp.
Those incidents, according to Cardoso, followed other mistakes for which the club had previously given the player opportunities to change his behaviour.
“We gave him a lot of love and opportunities despite repeated mistakes,” Cardoso said.
The coach stressed that Sundowns had attempted to support the player despite the repeated disciplinary issues.
However, he said there was a point at which the club had to enforce its standards.
“But if a player is not willing to follow the standards required at a club like Sundowns, the club has to act. That is why he has been separated from the team and is currently not working with us,” Cardoso said.
Sundowns future now uncertain
Cardoso’s comments are likely to intensify speculation about what comes next for Saleng.
The winger’s separation from the first team means he is currently outside the group competing for regular selection, while the reasons given by the coach suggest the issue extends beyond footballing decisions.
The situation could now force Sundowns and Saleng to confront a difficult question about the player’s long-term future at the club.
For a player who arrived with expectations of making an impact at one of Africa’s most ambitious clubs, being removed from first-team training represents a significant setback.
Cardoso, however, has made the club’s position clear. Sundowns’ standards, he indicated, are not negotiable, regardless of a player’s ability or status.
For now, Saleng remains away from the first team, with his next move likely to attract significant attention as Sundowns continue their campaign.
The question is no longer simply why Saleng has been left out.
It is whether there is a way back for him at Chloorkop.
