Signing for the seven-time successive top-flight winners would usually be a guarantee for a league winners’ medal, but this season the Buccaneers are giving Sundowns a run for their money.

In second place on the standings with 26 points from 13 games, the Brazilians are two points adrift of leaders Bucs and two games behind.

The Soweto side has been excellent under the guidance of Abdeslam Ouaddou, while Downs have not always been at their best under Miguel Cardoso this term.

Both sides have, however, strengthened their ranks during their mid-season break and Saleng, although injured, is determined to help his new team win silverware.

He said he will fight to earn his place in the Downs starting eleven amid competition from a number of high-profile teammates.

The player told the club’s Pitchside Podcast: “My ambition is to help Sundowns going forward from where they left off by winning cups and the league.

“The way they signed me while I’m injured means they have the belief that they can help me to recover and I can help the team.”

Saleng, who is currently nursing a quadriceps strain he sustained while playing on loan at ORBIT College last year, added: “I love competition because that’s where you want to see if you’ve peaked or if you can still go even higher.

“Competition will always be there, especially at big teams like Pirates and Sundowns. At Pirates, when I got there, competition was ther,e and I waited for my chance and I got it.

“I must work hard so that coach selects me, I won’t tell myself that just because I’m from Pirates, then my place is guaranteed. I must work hard so that I’m on the list of the coach.”