Mamelodi Sundowns’ blow ahead Stade Malien date? Cardoso ‘worried’ about Saleng & explains the Mudau sub

Defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns continued their push for the ninth consecutive Premier Soccer League title with a win on Tuesday night against debutants Orbit College.

The main highlight was on Monnapule Saleng, who had played for the Mswenko Boys in the first round, playing 13 games across all competitions with a return of two goals and three assists. It explains why it was an emotional return for the 27-year-old Bafana Bafana international.

It was Saleng’s first start for the Brazilians, who signed him from Orlando Pirates in the January transfer window.

The versatile attacker played the entire game, but according to coach Miguel Cardoso, that was not the plan ahead of the CAF Champions League fixture against Stade Malien on Friday.

Concern for Mamelodi Sundowns?

Cardoso further explained why he was forced to substitute Khuliso Mudau in the latter stages of the game.

“I was worried, I confess. I was a little bit worried because it was not the plan to keep him for 90 minutes on the pitch. But Mudau asked for a substitution. He was feeling a little bit tired, and we obviously wanted several players to be fresh because we don’t know who is going to start the match [against Stade Malien],” the tactician opened up in a presser.

“Still, there are some obvious predictions, and we knew that we wanted to spare players, especially the ones in the front that can give a lot, like Arthur [Sales], Nuno [Santos], Tashreeq [Matthews], Iqraam [Rayners], Brayan [Leon], and Saleng. But we could not spare all of them. 

“So, Saleng finished the match. Also, he is a player who doesn’t have too many matches under his belt, so we knew that he doesn’t accumulate fatigue. But we have to focus on his recovery. 

“I was shouting at him not to make too long runs on sprints because those are the ones that can bring muscular injuries. Also, to Thapelo [Morena] on the right, because we need to approach this [CAF] Champions League round with Stade Malien in between until the [FIFA] break with all the players available, so that we can have the highest power,” Cardoso concluded.