Cardoso pleased with Van Wyk’s rapid impact at Sundowns

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso says he is pleased with Antonio Van Wyk’s progress since the winger joined the club, after the new signing made an immediate impression in South Africa.

Van Wyk moved to the Brazilians from Austrian club SV Ried during the past transfer window, having spent two seasons with the European side.

The 24-year-old has quickly established himself as a useful option for Sundowns, producing strong performances when selected. He has played 12 matches in all competitions, starting seven, and has contributed five goals and two assists.

Cardoso believes Van Wyk’s value extends beyond his attacking output, with the coach praising the range of roles the winger can perform and the different options his versatility gives the team.

“We are happy with Antonio, we are pretty happy. I think that, obviously, he’s a player that also has been challenging himself,” Cardoso said.

The coach said Van Wyk had been asked to improve his defensive contribution, particularly his reaction after losing possession and his understanding of how to respond during different phases of a match.

“We have been challenging him to become stronger defensively, more reactive, more capable to counter-press, more capable to then understand the defensive moment of the game,” he added.

Cardoso singled out Van Wyk and Siyanda for the progress they have made in that area, while stressing that their development is still ongoing.

“He has been strong, together with Siyanda, especially those two, understanding that moment. I think that process is not complete, at all,” said Cardoso.

“Probably it will take some time more, but he has become much more versatile and much more useful and we are pretty happy with that process that we are doing together.”