Cardoso refuses to confirm reported Sundowns move for Matuludi

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has declined to confirm whether Polokwane City defender Thabang Matuludi will be announced as the club’s latest signing this week.

Matuludi has been strongly linked with a move to the reigning Betway Premiership champions, with sources telling iDiski Times that an agreement has been reached between Sundowns and Polokwane City.

However, Cardoso appeared surprised when asked about reports that the Bafana Bafana defender could be unveiled in the coming days. The Portuguese coach said he had no information that would allow him to confirm the proposed transfer.

“You know more than me, you are going to make me question things I don’t have answers for, you telling me in the next days a player will be announced, I can’t answer that,” Cardoso said.

“You are more sure of that than myself, I don’t know who is speaking to you, you must tell me.

“But really I don’t have that information so I can’t speak about something I don’t control.”

Cardoso said Sundowns coaches would not comment publicly on players until their arrivals had been formally announced by the club. He referred to Deano van Rooyen, whose move has already been confirmed, as an example of the process.

“I can speak about Deano – he’s arrived, he is here. Any player who is officially announced, we can discuss all the things before, whatever happens, we don’t know,” he added.

“I don’t want to go over the natural process that happens in our club, there’s a guideline we follow on every process.

“Coaches don’t go over official announcements. Will it happen? Let’s see.”

The comments leave the reported move for Matuludi unconfirmed, despite the claims that an agreement has been struck between the two clubs.

Cardoso’s position is that any discussions involving a potential signing must wait until Sundowns have completed their internal procedure and made an official announcement. Until then, he said he could not speak about a transfer he does not control.

Matuludi has been with Polokwane City since 2021 and has developed into one of the standout right-backs in South African football. His performances have also earned him international recognition with South Africa.

The defender’s reported link with Sundowns has therefore attracted significant attention, with the club yet to confirm whether he will join the champions. For now, Cardoso has distanced himself from reports of an imminent unveiling and said the club’s official process must take place before any further details can be discussed.