Khuliso Mudau faces surgery as Achilles injury threatens to end 2025

Mamelodi Sundowns defender Khuliso Mudau is expected to undergo surgery after suffering a suspected Achilles injury in Wednesday’s 2-0 Betway Premiership victory over Marumo Gallants.

The fullback was taken from the field on a stretcher at Loftus Versfeld, with the injury threatening to keep him out for the rest of the year. Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso said Mudau will see a specialist and surgeon on Thursday as the club begins to assess the extent of the problem and plan his recovery.

“He would tomorrow [Thursday] see a specialist and surgeon, for sure, a day after so that we can start the recovery process,” the Portuguese gaffer told journalists.

Mudau’s injury overshadowed what was otherwise a positive evening for the Tshwane giants, who collected maximum points in their third Betway Premiership match of the season.

Cardoso said the injury occurred without contact from an opponent and was not the result of a tackle.

“But that we cannot control. It was even an action where he was alone. There was no contact. It was not a tackle with an opponent. It happens, like incidents happen in car races. Also, in football sometimes, injuries like this happen,” Cardoso added.

The suspected Achilles problem increases the pressure on Sundowns’ squad, with Mudau joining Antonio Van Wyk, Teboho Mokoena and Arthur Sales on the sidelines.

His absence further reduces Cardoso’s available options as the Brazilian-based side manages a demanding campaign across multiple competitions. The full extent of the defender’s injury, and the likely length of his recovery, will become clearer after the specialist assessment and surgery.

The result against Marumo Gallants nevertheless gave Sundowns their third maximum-point return of the Betway Premiership season, although the seriousness of Mudau’s setback has placed a substantial cloud over the victory.