Sundowns Bombshell: Miguel Cardoso Reveals Why He Trusted Monnapule Saleng After Months In Exile

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has revealed the thinking behind Monnapule Saleng’s long-awaited return to competitive action, describing the winger’s brief appearance against Marumo Gallants as a deliberate demonstration of trust.

Saleng made his first competitive appearance of the season on Tuesday when Sundowns secured a 1-0 victory over Gallants in the Carling Knockout Cup. Although his introduction came late in the match, the moment could prove significant for a player attempting to rebuild his career at Chloorkop.

The former Orlando Pirates winger had endured a difficult period after disciplinary issues reportedly left him sidelined for several months. His absence included missing the second leg of the CAF Champions League final and failing to report for pre-season preparations.

He subsequently spent an extended period training separately before Sundowns reached a decision to reintegrate him into the squad.

Now, Cardoso has made it clear that the club is prepared to give Saleng another opportunity, but the responsibility rests with the player to prove that he deserves more playing time.

Cardoso Explains His Decision

Speaking after the match at Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Cardoso explained that Sundowns' approach was built around giving players an opportunity to return rather than permanently excluding them from the group.

“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,” the Portuguese coach said.

Cardoso also confirmed that Saleng had made an effort to address the situation, although he emphasised that the winger would be assessed according to the same standards as everyone else in the squad.

“He made his effort,” Cardoso continued.

“He will have his chances according to the performance that will be absolutely continuously evaluated like all the other players.”

The coach added that consistency would determine how much opportunity Saleng receives moving forward.

“If he becomes consistent, he will have more chances. If he has fluctuations, he will have less chances.”

His comments suggest that Saleng's return is not an automatic restoration of his previous position in the team. Instead, it represents a fresh opportunity to demonstrate his value.

Why Saleng Was Introduced Late

Cardoso revealed that the decision to bring Saleng on was intentional, particularly because Sundowns could have selected a more defensive player to help protect their narrow advantage.

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