sportskeeda
Mamelodi Sundowns’ head coach Miguel Cardoso displays optimism in spite of the extensive injury list his squad is currently facing, looking forward to the return of three vital players amidst a hectic fixture schedule.
The Brazilians are currently without several important squad members due to various injuries, including their captain Themba Zwane, Siyabonga Mabena, Mosa Lebusa, Tashreeq Matthews, Mothobi Mvala, Grant Kekana, and Rivaldo Coetzee.
However, the Portuguese manager has successfully guided his team to victories against Raja Casablanca in the CAF Champions League and Stellenbosch in the Betway Premiership during his first two matches at the helm.
Cardoso has alleviated concerns regarding a decline in Masandawana’s physical fitness this season due to injuries, stressing the importance of gradually reintegrating players who have been out for a prolonged period. “The majority of these injuries were caused by trauma, so the primary issue is their unavailability; it’s certainly not about our preparation, as most arose from traumatic events like the one that happened in the game against Raja Casablanca,” he clarified.
“We must patiently anticipate the return of those suffering long-term injuries, such as Themba [Zwane] and [Rivaldo] Coetzee, but they will be back when the time is appropriate. It’s essential they receive the necessary rest.”
The former Esperance de Tunis coach also indicated that the Chloorkop-based squad is on the verge of an injury turnaround as a few players are close to returning, while Marcelo Allende is not expected to miss significant time after exiting the match against Stellenbosch early due to injury.
“A few players are set to return quite soon—Tashreeq [Matthews] is making rapid progress, and [Grant] Kekana is also close to a swift comeback, alongside Mosa [Lebusa],” Cardoso mentioned.
“Regarding Marcelo [Allende], it was merely a minor setback from a bump; these incidents can’t be anticipated. We are hopeful for [his quick return], and we’ll wait for the assessment to determine when he can recover and rejoin the squad.”
Furthermore, the 52-year-old coach acknowledged that players such as Rushine De Reuck, who hasn’t played since the surprising defeat against Polokwane City in October, are at risk of injury due to their lack of match fitness.
“I fully comprehend your concern, and I concur that players like Rushine [De Reuck], who have seen limited action, might face challenges as we noticed towards the end of the match against Stellies, given the demanding nature of that effort,” Cardoso observed.
“There’s no major cause for alarm; our primary worry is simply our shortage of available players. However, we possess a sizable squad, and we are leveraging that to ensure we can address our challenges effectively. As I’ve mentioned, we need to maintain cohesion and strength as a unit.”
