Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso confirms the presence of Bafana Bafana striker Lebo Mothiba in the club’s training camp, but emphasizes that he is not yet ready to contribute to the team.

Cardoso explained that Mothiba underwent knee surgery as he has not played football since December 2023 and has been sidelined from football for over a year. This injury forced him to miss the Africa Cup of Nations with Bafana Bafana in Ivory Coast last January.

Consequently, he was released by former France international Patrick Vieira at RC Strasbourg Alsace at the end of last season, having played for the club since 2018.

The 28-year-old appeared set to join Wydad Casablanca in Morocco under former Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena, but the move fell through. As a result, the Bafana Bafana striker is currently without a club and is training with Sundowns. The club is not putting any pressure on him due to the severity of his injury.

“Let me make it clear, Lebo Mothiba cannot help the team at the moment because he is not in good conditions,” said Cardoso. 

“He comes from a long-term injury and we should not even think about him helping the team at the moment. 

“He is not in that process. Yes, he is working with us, but it is a long-term playing for him. He had a one-year without playing football, big surgery, he is recovering his condition, still many questions about the process.  

“He is a wonderful person, wonderful player, but everybody even ourselves cannot put any pressure on him. 

“So, let’s see what will happen with him.”

Throughout his injury-plagued career in France, Mothiba scored 44 goals and provided nine assists in 181 matches. He has four goals in 14 appearances for Bafana Bafana.