Will Monnapule Saleng play for Sundowns again? Inside Miguel Cardoso’s update

Monnapule Saleng’s time at Mamelodi Sundowns has been anything but straightforward. The 28-year-old winger joined from Orlando Pirates with high expectations but has spent much of his spell on the fringes of the squad. Now, two voices have weighed in on how the club should handle his return: his head coach, Miguel Cardoso, who says the door is open, and veteran coach Augusto Palacios, who believes Sundowns must first understand what lies behind the player’s struggles.

Monnapule Saleng: How It Got Here

Saleng was reportedly barred from training with the Sundowns first team after a series of absences. According to reports, he went missing before the CAF Champions League final in May and later declined to travel to Austria for pre-season roughly two months afterwards. Cardoso excluded him for repeatedly failing to report to camp during the 2025/26 season, and the winger was kept apart from his teammates for a period.

Saleng’s representative, Karabo Mathang-Tshabuse, has since said the player has faced significant mental health challenges and has sought professional help. He added that Saleng’s recovery depends on the player accepting that support. Nobody has publicly set out the cause of those difficulties, and it would be wrong to guess at them.

Cardoso: “A Chance to Move Forward”

In an update to the media, Cardoso said Saleng has since been seen with the squad. The coach said the club, from the chairman down to the captain, wants to give the winger a chance to move forward in a positive way.

Cardoso explained that Saleng trained alone for a time, trained consistently, and has kept that up since rejoining the group. If he stays on that path, the coach said, Saleng should feature for Sundowns again in the coming months, even with the squad’s depth, particularly in attack. Cardoso stressed trust as the key ingredient, saying the club wants to build a positive relationship so the player can perform for the team once more.

Palacios: Understand the Problem Before Deciding the Solution

Veteran South African coach Augusto Palacios, a former Orlando Pirates mentor, believes a standard approach to discipline or reintegration will not work here. Speaking to KickOff, he said: “it really depends on what type of mental health problem it is.”

His advice to the Sundowns technical staff is to establish whether the issue is football-related or rooted in Saleng’s private life. That answer, he suggests, determines whether the player needs a specialist doctor or a psychologist, and how quickly he should be pushed back into competitive action. Palacios warned that rushing a player back into high-stakes matches before the underlying challenges are addressed could backfire.

What It Means for Sundowns

The timing is delicate. Sundowns face a crowded fixture list, including continental football, and Cardoso has plenty of attacking options. That means he can afford to be patient. Saleng showed his quality during his time at Orlando Pirates and on loan at Orbit College, which is why many supporters want to see him recover and return to form.

The next few months look like a test for both sides: whether Saleng can keep up the consistency Cardoso has described, and whether the club can balance his wellbeing with the demands of a title-chasing squad.

If you or someone close to you is struggling with their mental health, speaking to a doctor or a counsellor is a good first step. In South Africa, the SADAG helpline (0800 567 567) offers free support.

FAQ

What happened to Monnapule Saleng at Mamelodi Sundowns? Saleng was reportedly barred from first-team training after failing to report for duty on several occasions, including before the CAF Champions League final in May and for the pre-season trip to Austria. His representative says he has faced mental health challenges and has sought professional help.

Will Monnapule Saleng play for Sundowns again? Coach Miguel Cardoso says he should, if he continues on his current path. The coach expects Saleng to feature in the coming months despite strong competition for places in attack.

What did Miguel Cardoso say about Saleng? Cardoso said the club wants to give Saleng a chance to move forward positively. He noted that the winger trained alone, has been consistent and has continued that consistency since rejoining the squad.

Is Monnapule Saleng back in training? Yes. He has been seen with the squad again and has returned to training.

What did Augusto Palacios say about Saleng? Palacios urged Sundowns to find out what is causing the winger’s mental health issues, saying the right response depends on the type of problem and whether it relates to football or his private life.

Why does the cause of Saleng’s struggles matter? According to Palacios, it determines whether Saleng needs a specialist doctor or a psychologist, and how the club should manage his return to competitive matches.

How old is Monnapule Saleng? Saleng is 28. He joined Mamelodi Sundowns from Orlando Pirates and has also played on loan at Orbit College.