Miguel Cardoso Explains Why Mamelodi Sundowns Reinstated Monnapule Saleng

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has explained the reasoning behind Monnapule Saleng’s return to competitive football after the winger made his long-awaited appearance in Tuesday’s 1-0 Carling Knockout Cup victory over Marumo Gallants at Loftus Versfeld.

Saleng’s situation had attracted considerable attention following his reported disciplinary problems at Sundowns, which resulted in him being excluded from first-team activities for an extended period. The former Orlando Pirates star endured a difficult spell after joining the Tshwane giants, with reports linking his absence to disciplinary issues, including missing pre-season training and failing to feature in important matches.

However, Sundowns eventually decided to give the talented winger another opportunity following internal discussions involving Cardoso, the club’s sporting director, team captains and chairman.

Speaking after the victory over Marumo Gallants, Cardoso emphasised that the club believes in supporting individuals rather than permanently excluding them from the team.

"First of all, I always told you that those are the values I found inside this club and those are the values I share and multiply with my players. We don't allow ourselves to exclude a human being, a person, out of the process," Cardoso explained.

The Portuguese coach also revealed that introducing Saleng late in the match was a deliberate decision to demonstrate the club’s renewed confidence in him. Rather than bringing on a defensive player to protect Sundowns’ narrow lead, Cardoso chose to give the winger valuable minutes on the pitch.

"I think today we wanted to show him that we trust him and give him the energy to enter the match," he added.

Despite the encouraging return, Cardoso made it clear that Saleng would not receive preferential treatment. The winger must prove his value through consistent performances, discipline and commitment during training.

"He will have his chances according to the performance that will be continuously evaluated like all the other players. If he becomes consistent, he will have more chances. If he has fluctuations, he will have less chances," Cardoso warned.

Saleng now faces the challenge of rebuilding his career at Chloorkop. With competition for attacking positions remaining intense, his future will depend on whether he can regain his form and convince the technical team that he deserves regular opportunities.

Source:

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