Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso weighed in on Themba Zwane’s return after the midfield maestro returned from a lengthy injury layoff against Al Ahly in the CAF Champions League semi-final first leg clash on Saturday.

The Sundowns captain endured a lengthy spell on the sidelines due to a career-threatening ACL injury he suffered during a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier match against Congo in Brazzaville last October.

While the Downs mentor is pleased to have the reliable services of Zwane at his disposal, he says they won’t rush the player as he is not yet ready to complete a full match, having been out of action for seven months.

“We should relate to all the weapons we might have to achieve our objectives, that is, winning games. Everybody understands that Themba [Zwane] comes from a very long period where he didn’t play,” said Cardoso as they drew goalless with Ahly on Saturday.

“Our medical department, our performance department did a wonderful job to recover him but for sure Themba is not ready to play a full match otherwise he will struggle on the pitch, and we will not put him in conditions to perform [below his best], that’s also respect from us to him.

“But today [Saturday] we had no problem putting him to play, we knew that there was a moment he could bring something according to how the game was.”

Cardoso went on to explain that the 35-year-old playmaker would currently struggle in a high-intensity end-to-end game, considering the fact that he doesn’t have enough minutes in his tank, but believes a run of games would greatly improve Zwane’s match sharpness and fitness.

“When you play a game in a half pitch, it’s easier for him because when you play a game of come and go, that’s much more difficult, he will struggle more. But in this kind of position, the games will also give him the development of his condition so that he can help us more and more,” the Portuguese tactician added.

“I’m quite happy about the fact that indeed he came back, most of all because he’s a human being who’s really struggled for a long period. I followed his steps on his recovery; he invested a lot in that, and Mothobi [Mvala] is now coming back.

“It’s players with experience, players that have strong work in the group, that bring stability in the group, that bring joy, that bring animation, that bring energy. Of course, we will use them according to the level [required] so that they are indeed powerful for us, as I said before, I believe they will help us until the end of the season.”

Zwane will be keen to make his seventh appearance of the season across all competitions when the Tshwane giants lock horns with Al Ahly in the return leg in Cairo on Friday, following a goalless draw in the first leg in the capital.