Mamelodi Sundowns defender Khuliso Mudau suffers serious Achilles injury

Mamelodi Sundowns manager Cardoso says Khuliso Mudau has suffered a “very serious” Achilles injury, describing the full-back’s absence as a major blow for both the club and South Africa.

Mudau was carried off on a stretcher shortly before half-time during Sundowns’ 2-0 victory over Marumo Gallants on Wednesday. He was replaced by Zuko Mdunyelwa as the South African club returned to winning ways.

The result was overshadowed by the injury, with Cardoso confirming after the match that Mudau had damaged his Achilles. The defender, who represents Bafana Bafana, went down without contact in an incident away from the main action.

“Yeah, I think after 25 minutes that we played very, very well because of the start was very good. We lost a bit of a cushion in the team, but it’s normal if you look a lot of these team some still need to develop to manage moments but I think we did well. We did very well the way we came back on the second half,” Cardoso told SuperSport after the game.

“Then, when we bring new players the team got a lot of ability and capacity to get the ball, there’s very positives and negative. I think Mudau has a very serious injury, but it’s obvious for a player of calibre, quality it’s a big loss for South Africa and for us especially.

Cardoso was then asked whether the injury was to Mudau’s Achilles, and confirmed that it was.

“Yeah, we believe so unfortunately, very serious injury. No, he got injured outside of the pitch on that action there was no contact, I thought it was the one in the middle,” he added when quizzed by SuperSport about the Achilles.

“But no, it was not, it was here we reviewed the action. This one was not from a tackle, unfortunately Teboho is not ok from that first match.

“But no this was absolutely no occasion, it happens, there are accidents in F1, incidents in Football, it’s a big loss, let’s hope the other rise for the challenge ahead,” Cardoso said.

The Sundowns manager said the injury had not resulted from a tackle or any physical challenge, calling it an accident. He also referred to Teboho’s situation from the first match, although his comments about that incident were not further explained.

For Sundowns, Mudau’s injury removes a player Cardoso regards as being of significant quality from his squad. The manager also stressed the wider consequences for South Africa, saying the defender’s absence would be felt by the national team as well as the club.

Sundowns’ victory over Marumo Gallants nevertheless marked a return to winning form. Cardoso said his side had started strongly, lost some of its control during the match and responded well after the interval, while the introduction of new players brought additional ability and capacity in possession.

The full extent of Mudau’s injury and the length of his expected absence were not stated.