Cardoso Provide Injury Of Four Key Players

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has provided an injury update on several key players—Mothobi Mvala, Themba Zwane, Thapelo Maseko, Divine Lunga, and Grant Kekana—who were all absent from the goalless draw against Kaizer Chiefs.

The defending champions, who currently sit in third place with eight points from four matches, will face Stellenbosch at Athlone on Saturday.

Some of these players are a touch-and-go to face Steve Barker’s side.

Cardoso addressed public criticism regarding his team selection, urging fans to trust the club’s decisions.

“I see that during the week there were a lot of issues regarding the coach not putting this player to play and that player to play,” said Cardoso.

“And it’s Mothobi, it’s Maseko, and it’s this and that, and people don’t know anything. People should sometimes trust that those inside clubs like Mamelodi Sundowns work very hard, with a great deal of respect for the players we have, understanding which players can and should play.

“No one knows that Mothobi Mvala has a setback in his knee, no one knows, but they are judging me because the coach doesn’t put Mothobi Mvala to play. But don’t forget that there are five or six players on the position, and that is the respect that I have for my players.

“Kekana, you saw how he played last match that he suffered; he struggled on the pitch. He handled it, but he had a big, strong knock on the knee.

“Those things are small, thank God. Mothobi is training normally, and Grant will return to training sessions quickly. We are recovering Themba Zwane, and Maseko had an injury. 

“I still don’t know the results of the injury that he has. He had an injury in the match with Pirates. Divine Lunga finished the match with Orlando Pirates with a big contusion on the ribs, so we also assessed him. I don’t know exactly the results of the scan.”