Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso said Monnapule Saleng has his trust and bridges are being rebuilt with the attacking player, who fell foul of club regulations and was banished from the squad earlier this season.
Details of what caused Saleng’s expulsion from the squad have not been publicly revealed, but the winger has a reputation for ill-discipline from his time at Orlando Pirates.
Sundowns made Saleng train on his own at the start in the season with Cardoso explaining at the time he repeatedly broke club rules but has since returned to the squad.
“Me, the sports director (Fleming Berg), the players, the captains, and Saleng, we decided to give ourselves and Saleng an opportunity to move forward in a positive way,” Cardoso revealed after Tuesday’s emphatic 4-1 win away at Richards Bay.
“Saleng trained during a period alone, and he trained quite consistently and with respect of the values that we need to have inside a professional team. And since he re-joined the team, he has kept that path.
“So we are happy that he shows consistency in training. Obviously, his time will appear in a certain moment, I'm pretty sure, but when it will be, I don't know.
“Obviously you must understand, we have more options in the attack that we have had in the past, but I'm pretty sure Saleng will appear.
“He is a player that we trust. So, when I mean trust is, we are trying to create a positive relationship between the parties, so that I can trust him, he can trust me. We can trust each other. And on that moment, he will for sure be able to perform,” Cardoso said.
“You saw me celebrating with him, pushing him to lift the MTN8 cup because I support him. I totally support him.
“I think that we are a special club in that way because probably another club, would not allow this process, but at Mamelodi Sundowns, we want the best for everybody, and we take ourselves to the limits in order to get what we want,” the coach added.