Augusto Palacios has a message for Mamelodi Sundowns: don’t rush this one. The veteran coach says the club needs to find out what’s really going on with Monnapule Saleng, who is slowly finding his way back into training after a tough few months. For Palacios, this isn’t a simple case of a player breaking rules. It’s a mental health issue, and it needs proper attention.
How the Saleng situation reached this point
Not many stories in the Betway Premiership have got people talking like this one. Saleng arrived at Sundowns from Orlando Pirates with plenty of hype. Fans expected the 28 year old to bring pace, tricks and goals to an attack that was already strong.
It didn’t work out that way. Miguel Cardoso, the head coach, later explained that Saleng was left out because he kept missing team camp during the 2025/26 season. The club saw it as a breach of its code of conduct. So Saleng was kept away from his teammates for a while, mostly to protect the mood inside the squad at an important time.
On the face of it, that sounded like a normal disciplinary story. A player breaks the rules, and the club responds. Plenty of supporters saw it exactly like that, and honestly, it was an easy conclusion to reach.
The agent’s revelation changed the conversation
Then came a twist. Saleng’s agent, Karabo Mathang Tshabuse, went public and said the player had been battling serious mental health challenges. He confirmed that professional help had been arranged. He also said something important: how far Saleng gets on the road to recovery will depend on whether he’s ready to accept the help being offered.
That changed how many people read the whole saga. The missed camps might not have been plain defiance. They could have been a sign of something much heavier going on beneath the surface. That doesn’t wipe away every decision he made, but it does explain why simply punishing him wouldn’t fix much.
The good news is that Saleng is back in training. But being on the pitch again doesn’t mean the struggle is over. Plenty of people look fine on the outside while carrying a lot on the inside, and footballers are no different.
What Augusto Palacios is saying
Palacios has been around South African football for decades. He coached Orlando Pirates in the past and has handled all sorts of characters in dressing rooms. Speaking to KickOff, he shared how he thinks Sundowns should approach Saleng’s return.
His starting point is that “mental health problem” can mean very different things. In football, he says, the cause might be a bad injury. It might be trouble at home. It might even be alcohol or drugs. Each of those needs its own kind of help, so treating them all the same way makes no sense.
So Palacios wants the coach to first find out what kind of problem the player is facing. Is it linked to football, or is it about his private life? Once that’s clear, the club can decide whether Saleng needs a doctor, a psychologist or another type of specialist. In his view, you watch and you ask questions before you make any plans.
It sounds simple, and it is. Yet clubs often skip that step. There’s always another match, another fitness test, another tactical meeting. Palacios is reminding them that the human being comes first, and the footballer second.
Why this matters for Sundowns and Cardoso
Sundowns have the money and the people to do this properly. Palacios believes the technical team at Chloorkop should get involved and try to understand what’s going on around the player. That goes beyond checking his fitness numbers. It means noticing his mood, his daily routine and the people he spends time with.
Being a coach today is a much bigger job than it used to be. Managers now deal with a bit of counselling and social support as well as tactics. Cardoso has already shown he’s willing to stand firm on the rules. Now the club has to show it can be firm and caring at the same time.
The timing makes it harder. Sundowns have a packed schedule ahead, which includes CAF Champions League action. Supporters are desperate to see Saleng play again, and nobody doubts his talent. He showed his quality at Orlando Pirates and during his loan at Orbit College. But his future at Loftus Versfeld still hangs in the balance.
If the problems his agent spoke about haven’t been dealt with, throwing him into a big Champions League night could go badly wrong. One tough moment in front of a loud crowd could hurt the player and the team. A patient plan, on the other hand, might give Sundowns a sharp, settled attacker for the rest of the season.
Patience will matter most
Everyone will have to be patient here, fans included. A lot of supporters want to see the big money spent on Saleng pay off. That’s fair. But a rushed return could cost the club far more in the end.
Cardoso will decide when Saleng plays and for how long. Whatever he picks, people will be watching closely, because this case could show how South African clubs balance discipline with player welfare. Too many players have suffered in silence over the years. Every case that’s handled well helps to break the stigma a little more.
Support is out there for South Africans
This story matters beyond football too. Mental health struggles can hit anyone, from a student to a taxi driver to a star winger. Asking for help isn’t weakness. The South African Depression and Anxiety Group offers guidance and support through its website, sadag.org. The government’s Department of Health also shares information about public health services. The first step feels heavy, but talking to someone you trust is often the easiest way to begin.
What happens next
For now, the spotlight stays on Saleng’s recovery. Sundowns haven’t shared a public plan, and Cardoso hasn’t promised him any game time. What’s clear is that people inside South African football are calling for a more careful and caring approach.
Palacios has laid out a simple roadmap. Understand the problem. Match the help to the cause. Then think about football. If Sundowns follow that path, Monnapule Saleng might just get the fresh start his talent deserves.
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