Cardoso Vows Sundowns Support For Saleng After Viral MTN8 Video
Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso insists the club will never abandon Monnapule Saleng in his time of need, responding to viral social media footage of the winger during Saturday’s MTN8 final celebrations.
Social media clip showed Saleng sitting motionless in the VIP box at Moses Mabhida Stadium while his former club, Orlando Pirates, fell 2-0 to Sundowns on Saturday.
The viral video prompted an outpouring of support and well-wishes from across the South African football community. Saleng previously starred at the same venue for Pirates, scoring crucial winning goals in the 2022/23 and 2023/24 MTN8 finals.
The 28-year-old winger, who joined Masandawana from Pirates during the January 2025 transfer window, missed the club’s pre-season camp in Austria due to personal matters.
In August, Cardoso clarified that Saleng’s situation was a club matter rather than a decision for the coach alone.
The Portuguese tactician has since revealed that the club has decided to give the winger another chance. However, with Saleng yet to feature this season, Cardoso admitted that he could not say when the former 2022/23 PSL Players’ Player of the Season would return to action.
“In the same way I spoke about Saleng when I last spoke about him, we, as a club, the sporting director, the players, the captains and the chairman, decided to allow ourselves and Saleng to move forward positively,” Cardoso said after Sundowns defeated Richards Bay 4-1 at Princess Magogo Stadium in the Betway Premiership on Tuesday.
“Saleng trained during that period on his own. He trained consistently, respecting the values that we have within the professional team.
“Since he rejoined the club, he has maintained that consistency. We are happy that he has been consistent in training. Obviously, his time will come at a certain moment, I’m pretty sure..”
Cardoso acknowledged that intense competition for places in Sundowns’ attacking department requires patience from the former international.
“When that will be, I don’t know. You must understand, as I have stated, that this season we have more options up front than we have had in the past.
“You see, Arthur Sales is not here. Lebo Mothiba was here, but on the bench.
“We have Saleng and Katlego Ntsabeleng, among other players who were not here on Tuesday. They have to fight to put themselves in a position to play. But I’m pretty sure he will feature, and he is a player we trust.
“What I mean by trust is that we are trying to create a positive relationship between the parties so that I can help him and he can trust me.
“I know that moment will come, and he will be able to perform.”
Saleng was also absent from the Sundowns squad that lifted the CAF Champions League trophy after defeating FAR Rabat in the second leg of the final in Morocco last season, reportedly due to personal issues.
His last appearance for the club came in the first leg of the semi-final, when Sundowns secured a 1-0 victory at Loftus Versfeld Stadium.
Cardoso added that his public show of support for Saleng during Saturday’s MTN8 celebrations reflected the club’s commitment to standing by the player.
“You saw me celebrating with him and encouraging him to lift the MTN8 cup because I support him,” added Cardoso, who has now taken charge of 102 matches for Sundowns, losing just 13.
“We are a special club in that regard. Probably, at other clubs, we would not have been involved in this process. But at Mamelodi Sundowns, we want the best from everyone, and we push ourselves to the limit to achieve what we want and give our footballers the support they need.”
Saleng has made eight appearances in all competitions for Sundowns, contributing one assist.
