Cardoso Provides Khoza Injury Update, Calls For Improved Pitch Conditions
Mamelodi Sundowns head coach, Miguel Cardoso, has provided an update on the injured Malibongwe Khoza ahead of his side’s league clash with Orlando Pirates at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Saturday.
Khoza, who has featured nine times in all competitions this season, got injured in his side’s 5-1 first-leg CAF Champions League qualifying round win over Remo Stars in Nigeria.
The reigning Betway Premiership winners will be without their academy product this weekend against the Buccaneers.
“Mali [Khoza], as you saw, he got injured in the Remo last match away. He didn’t break any bones, but he had an issue with his ankle, and he’s recovering. Of course, that took him a little bit of energy from his process,” said Cardoso.
The 21-year-old defender had asserted his presence in the Sundowns defense as he had started in eight consecutive games before succumbing to injury.
“But also, you know that in Mamelodi Sundowns the competition for the positions on the pitch is so hard that sometimes just a slight lack of luck, or a little bit of this opportunity in one match, or a bad performance can take you out of your pitch.
“It’s not what happened with Mali; Mali is still injured, so he will not be able to, unfortunately, perform or play. But we expect him to come quickly, very quickly. But he will also not be available for the national team on the next international break,” added the 53-year-old.
The Portuguese tactician also emphasized the importance of improving football facilities and coaching quality in South Africa.
“What I care about is that football is always better when it’s played on better pitches, and that will be regulated by the PSL, find a solution, because it’s not up to me to find. Of course, that will demand some disagreements. I know that some clubs don’t use their own facilities. I am aware of the problem of pitch. I know it’s not simple, but it must be started to be solved if you want to have a solution,” said Cardoso.
As it stands, the majority of Premier Soccer League (PSL) clubs use stadiums owned and maintained by the municipalities in which they are situated, with Loftus Versfeld being an exception due to being privately owned and operating as a rugby and football stadium.
It is worth noting that Cardoso’s employers use both the Loftus Versfeld (owned by Blue Bulls Rugby Union) and Lucas Moripe Stadium (owned by City of Tshwane).
“If we continue saying the pitches are not from the clubs, they are from the city council, we will continue to just find justifications and not really a way to find a definitive question that will bring the football even in a higher level,” added the Portuguese.
Fans and neutrals alike will be hoping that the outcome from this encounter is derived from on-pitch performance rather than pitch conditions.
