Cardoso urges patience as Sundowns turn to young players

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso says the club’s young players have made a valuable contribution while key members of his squad are unavailable, but has warned supporters not to expect them to carry the team.

Sundowns began their 2026/27 Betway Premiership campaign with a 3-2 victory over TS Galaxy in Mbombela on Tuesday. They did so without several important players, including Teboho Mokoena, who suffered an injury during the MTN8 win against Polokwane City.

The club has also had to deal with the tragic loss of Jayden Adams, further limiting Cardoso’s options at the beginning of the season. Those circumstances have led the Portuguese coach to give greater responsibility to younger players, particularly in midfield, with Bennett Mokoena among those to benefit.

Cardoso believes the youngsters are progressing, but stressed that Sundowns must continue to rely on the experienced core that has delivered major success in recent seasons.

“As Teboho was not present we brought in a young player that we believe so much [in] for the future and for the moment,” said Cardoso.

“But we cannot expect that he’ll be the master of the game, but we expect him to help, and I think he did his job. As much as he plays, the best he will become. I’m speaking about Bennet. You saw Bennet again coming back for the second time and entering from the bench and how he brought energy.

“Of course, here and there we see that he tries to make shots from places that probably he has to pass the ball. But that’s exactly how he’ll grow his game compared to the game he was used to playing in the DDC and we are pretty happy about the job that he did.”

Cardoso also highlighted the return of Malibongwe Khoza and said Sundowns have further young options available, including Siyanda Ndlovu. However, he does not believe a side competing at the highest level can be built around inexperienced players alone.

“And Mali [Malibongwe Khoza] coming back today also a young player we have still the answers to put in like Siyanda Ndlovu. But a team cannot be built for the level of challenges that we have around just youngsters.

“So, the base of the team will have to be consistently the players that were here already that put the team up to the Champions League final and victory and two Champions League finals in a row. So, the team has to be built around those players.”

The coach confirmed that opportunities would continue to be offered to the club’s emerging talent. Kutlwano Letlhaku featured in Sundowns’ previous match but was not involved against TS Galaxy.

“But obviously the youngsters will continue to be provided opportunities. Also, Kutlwano [Letlhaku] played in the last match, today he was not there we are happy with the work that they are doing.

“But I just ask the yellow nation to understand that we need to be patient with the boys, continue to give them opportunities. But don’t expect them to carry the team because especially in the more difficult moments it’s more difficult for a youngster to have that capacity, the background, the emotional stability to decide matches for the team.”

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