Lazola Maku must prove himself to earn place at Mamelodi Sundowns – Miguel Cardoso

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has urged patience with new signing Lazola Maku, insisting that the young midfielder must prove himself before earning a regular place in the team.

The Portuguese tactician acknowledged the 19-year-old’s quality but stressed that he needs time to settle into life at Chloorkop and understand the demands of the technical team.

“Let the boy have the time to settle down and feel comfortable amongst us, to understand what we want from him. There is a lot of competition there [in midfield]. He will have to prove a lot. Putting pressure on him or us doesn’t mean we don’t trust or recognise the quality, because we do, we trust and recognise the quality,” Cardoso stated.

Cardoso made it clear that the club’s decision to give Maku time to adapt should not be interpreted as a lack of confidence in his abilities.

However, the youngster faces a difficult challenge in his quest for regular playing time, with intense competition in Sundowns’ midfield requiring him to demonstrate his quality and adapt to the team’s expectations.

Maku joined the South African Premier Soccer League champions on October 20 as a free agent following his departure from Siwelele.

The midfielder arrives at Chloorkop with promising credentials, having been part of South Africa’s U-20 squad that won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2025. He also captained the national U-20 team to the COSAFA title in 2026.

Despite his achievements at youth level, Maku must now translate his potential into performances at club level as he seeks to establish himself at one of South Africa’s most competitive teams.