Mamelodi Sundowns coach Manqoba Mnqithi has provided an update on the likelihood of Teboho Mokoena and Khuliso Mudau being restored to the matchday squad for the Betway Premiership clash against Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium on Saturday (15:00). 

The duo was last seen in action for Sundowns against Stellenbosch FC in the second leg of the MTN8 semifinals, before heading for national duty in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers against Uganda and South Sudan earlier this month. 

Since then, they were dropped from the matchday squad which triumphed 4-0 in the first leg of the CAF Champions League second preliminary round tie against Eswatini champions Mbabane Swallows – a decision thought to be attributed to fatigue. 

However, their omission from the Tshwane derby matchday squad raised eyebrows and sparked debates about the reason behind their snub. Subsequently, the players didn’t feature in the next two matches, where Downs thumped Swallows and Marumo Gallants respectively. 

Now, ahead of the much-anticipated crunch encounter against the Soweto giants, the Downs mentor has dismissed the notion that Mokoena and Mudau are the big players at the club, stating that the Brazilians have a lot of important figures in the dressing room. 

“I think Sundowns has got a lot of big players, so all the big players are playing and I’m happy with what they have offered so far, ” Mngqithi said when asked about the probability of the Bafana duo returning to the team. 

However, Mngqithi didn’t completely slam the door shut on the possible return of the players, revealing that they are always part of the selection process, and anything can happen with the showdown at the calabash on the horizon. 

“They are always part of the selection process, ” revealed the Sundowns coach. 

“There’s no match where they were never part of the selection process, we just have to make those decisions sometimes. But they are there, they are competing, they are fit, and anything can happen.” 

Masandawana will be looking to extend their nine-game unbeaten run against Chiefs in all competitions after handing them a record home defeat when they thrashed them 5-1 in April, while Amakhosi will be hoping to maintain their impressive start to the season.