Brace Up Chiefs & Pirates, Sundowns Has A new Secret Weapon
Monnapule Saleng has seemingly been turning heads in training at new club Mamelodi Sundowns, raising hopes that he could become a secret weapon for the team against Orlando Pirates.
The 27-year-old only joined Sundowns earlier last month, in a move that surprised many given his strong ties with the Soweto giants earlier in his career.
Saleng’s arrival at the Tshwane side was not without challenges. He completed the switch while carrying an injury sustained during his loan spell at Orbit College.
As a result, he was unavailable for selection in the early part of his time at Downs and had to be sidelined while working his way back to full fitness.
Over the past few weeks, however, the former Free State Stars winger has been spotted training with the rest of the squad.
In a recent interview, Masandawana head coach Miguel Cardoso revealed that the Free State-born attacker was recovering well.
“Saleng has recovered very positively. If you remember, when I spoke about Saleng, I told, in a very negative approach, probably we may have him out for two months,” Cardoso said.
“This is because I also wanted to take out some pressure from his recovery and from himself. I believe that it will probably not be necessary all that time for him, eventually, to be training normal.”
That progression is exactly what Cardoso hoped for, despite the initial fitness setback, with the Portuguese coach emphasising his belief in Saleng’s quality and potential impact once fully fit.
With the Tshwane giants gearing up for a high-stakes clash against the Buccaneers, the timing of Saleng’s return could be pivotal.
While it remains unclear whether Saleng will feature in the game, his inclusion in training sessions has given supporters plenty to talk about, particularly given his ability to change games with pace from wide areas.
If Cardoso does decide to deploy Saleng against his former club, it would not only deepen an already heated rivalry but also add another attacking dimension to Sundowns’ lineup in what promises to be a fiery showdown.
The match is scheduled for 19:30 at the FNB Stadium, with Pirates hosting the encounter.
