Cardoso says Mokoena injury is minor but Sundowns have depth to cope

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso says Teboho Mokoena is recovering from the same injury he suffered while on international duty with Bafana Bafana.

The midfielder was absent from first-team training on Wednesday morning, leaving his availability for Sundowns’ CAF Champions League commitments uncertain. However, Cardoso expects Mokoena to return quickly after confirming the problem is a stretch to an inside ligament.

“The injury for Teboho is not a new one, it’s the same. It means that he had a situation in the national team, as we know, and he had contact in one leg. He was standing on one leg at the moment that the player came. There was no intention to hurt him, but it happened,” Cardoso said.

“So, he had a stretch on the inside ligament. It’s good it’s not a big thing, it will be overcome very, very quickly.”

Sundowns have midfield options

Mokoena has established himself as an important player for the Brazilians, but Cardoso believes Sundowns have sufficient quality to deal with his absence if he is not fit to play.

Thabo Cele, Marcelo Allende, Sphelele Mkhulise, Gomolemo Kekana, Katlego “Tsiki” Ntsabeleng and new signing Lazola Maku are among the midfielders who could be considered. Bathusi Aubaas, however, remains unavailable after also sustaining an injury while on international duty.

“If I play Thapelo, Zuko, Thabang or Khuliso, they are all very different and express differently,” Cardoso added.

“The question here is obviously we understand what everyone brings to the pitch, their best when they play at their best level.

“And Teboho, everyone knows his quality, but I think in the team we have many quality players to play and to make a good game, should he not be available.”

Cardoso said Sundowns have had to manage more changes to their squad than in previous campaigns. He noted that several prominent players involved in the team’s CAF Champions League final appearance are currently unavailable.

“We respect everyone in this group and the trust we have is exactly the one we need to establish and show when the players are not possible to play,” he said.

“Khuliso, Keanu, Grant, Ronwen, Jayden, Teboho, Kutlwano. It doesn’t mean the other ones are not good or capable of doing the job, they have proved they are. Others will rise. Morena was not able to play in the World Cup and then he was called up now. It’s life…”

Despite the injury concerns surrounding Mokoena and Aubaas, Cardoso remains confident in the depth of his squad as Sundowns enter a demanding period of the season.