Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has revealed the type of captain he would like to have at Chloorkop with the team boasting several seasoned professionals and leaders capable of assuming responsibility. 

The club captain Themba Zwane is currently out injured after being forced off with an Achilles injury sustained in Bafana Bafana’s 1-1 draw against Congo Brazzaville in October and is expected to face a lengthy spell on the sidelines. 

In the midfield maestro’s absence, Ronwen Williams has been taking charge of the captain’s armband, marshaling the team from the goalposts   – a similar task he fulfills at national level where he was named as the skipper by Hugo Broos. 

Although the Portuguese mentor never suggested any intentions to change the captaincy at the defending Betway Premiership champions, he has a clear idea of the type of leader he wants to see in place in his squad. 

“I like to have captains that have the power to help the coach lead the team, have leadership in terms of helping the team inside the pitch with their behavior and speaking of normal behavior we mean the way they treat themselves, the opponents, and the referees, ” said Cardoso. 

However, Cardoso stressed the significance of having multiple leaders within the team, challenging the players to be in command alongside the captain as he emphasizes the spirit of teamwork and togetherness. “But I also like for every player to have the attitude of a captain, that’s what I need, it’s that everybody takes that responsibility on their shoulders so that the captain is just one more and not the captain itself. Because I believe the players can do it, we work on a collective attitude, ” he said. 

“Because when there is an intervention from the captain or one of the captains, maybe Themba [Zwane], Denis [Onyango], Ronza [Williams], or Teboho [Mokoena] it’s because they want to shape the character of the group, so if the character is already shaped, they don’t need to intervene. 

“So, it means that everybody can have the right attitude, and sometimes you just highlight the approach at a certain moment. But we are a very simple dressing room, and Themba keeps close to us, ” the former Esperance de Tunis tactician added. 

Cardoso’s first test at Sundowns will be against Moroccan giants Raja Athletic Club in the CAF Champions League at Loftus Stadium on Sunday (15:00) with both sides in desperate need of maximum points.