Cardoso explains why Sundowns moved for Van Rooyen after Mudau injury

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso says Deano van Rooyen was signed to provide crucial defensive cover after Bafana Bafana right-back Khuliso Mudau suffered a long-term Achilles injury.

Van Rooyen left Orlando Pirates a few weeks ago and became available to Sundowns as the Tshwane club sought another option at right-back. Although he had received limited playing time at Pirates, Cardoso expects the former Stellenbosch defender to be ready to feature soon.

The 28-year-old was at Loftus Stadium on Wednesday as Sundowns recorded a 3-0 victory over troubled Siwelele FC.

“Deano, we think he can add things to the team, otherwise he would not come to Sundowns,” Cardoso told the media after the match.

The Portuguese coach said Van Rooyen’s experience and quality had made him an attractive addition, with his career providing evidence of his ability.

“We need to integrate him as best as possible and as quickly as possible also,” Cardoso said. “We trust the players we have, as you saw today, and we will continue to trust them, but we need more options.

“We need not only to bring quality, but to bring numbers so that if there is a case of an injury, we don’t stay looking in the sky without options.”

Van Rooyen building match fitness

Cardoso also rejected any suggestion that Van Rooyen’s physical condition would delay his involvement, saying the main issue was regaining the intensity required for competitive matches.

“He is not fat,” Cardoso said. “At the moment, there is not a lot of concern regarding body composition. It’s a matter of physicality in terms of picking up the pace to play games.”

Van Rooyen played 50 minutes in a friendly match on Wednesday alongside Sundowns players who were not involved against Siwelele FC.

“He did it, together with the boys who were not in the match today, and he will for sure, in the proper time, understand what we want from the position,” Cardoso added.

“He is versatile and clever and has a lot of experience, so he will understand very quickly whatever we ask from him.”

The CAF Champions League-winning coach said Van Rooyen had already begun settling into the squad after being included in the team’s training camp.

Sundowns allowed him to leave in the morning to train before returning to camp, a move Cardoso said would help him integrate as quickly as possible.

The coach added that the close relationships between players in South Africa had also eased the transition, even when they represented rival clubs.

“It’s obvious everybody knows him and they are friends,” he said. “It’s a nice thing that does not happen in other countries. In South Africa, players have a friendly relation even when they are in teams that are rivals.

“He was beautifully welcomed and he is one more to help.”