Miguel Cardoso gives update on winger Monnapule Saleng

The 28-year-old was reportedly barred from training with the first team after allegedly going AWOL ahead of the CAF Champions League final in May and refusing to travel to Austria for pre-season two months later. 

However, Saleng has since been spotted with the squad, prompting Cardoso to offer an encouraging update on the winger’s future.

"We as the club from the Chairman to the captain, we want to give ourselves and Saleng the opportunity to move forwards in a positive way. Saleng trained alone for a while and he trained consistently, and since he re-joined the team he has remained on that path."

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Cardoso almost guaranteed that Saleng – should he stay on the straight and narrow – will feature for Sundowns in the coming months again despite the depth in the squad this season especially in attack.

The coach used the word “trust” when describing the relationship between the former Orlando Pirates talisman and Sundowns.

"He is a player who we trust, and we are trying to create a positive relationship so that he can perform for us again. We want to support him because at Mamelodi Sundowns we want the best for our players."