Mamelodi Sundowns keep focus on FIFA Cup and MTN8 despite Al Ahli and Orlando Pirates tests

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso says the club is not yet planning its strongest possible team for the FIFA Cup meeting with Al Ahli or the MTN8 final against Orlando Pirates, with both fixtures still some distance away.

Al Ahli secured the match at Loftus Versfeld on 19 September after beating New Zealand side Auckland FC 1-0 last week. However, Cardoso believes it is too early to decide which players will feature in Tshwane, given the number of matches Sundowns must play before then.

The coach said the club was gathering information about Al Ahli and intended to watch several of their matches, but stressed that the condition of the players and the team’s development would be shaped by the games still to come.

“We are following the team and we are getting information from different sources, and we will also be going to see a few of their matches. There are still so many matches to play before then and those matches will determine in what condition we play that game and the MTN8 Final. We are trying to gradually arrive at the core of our team for the season ahead.”

Cardoso’s comments also apply to Sundowns’ MTN8 final against Orlando Pirates. That match is scheduled for 10 October, by which point both teams will have progressed much further into their domestic programme.

The timing of the two fixtures means Sundowns must continue to manage their squad rather than focus on selecting a line-up for matches that remain more than two weeks away. Cardoso added that the way players are handled would be important as the club works towards both encounters.

His emphasis on squad management comes as Sundowns assess the progress of their attacking options. Cardoso had previously warned that winger Siyanda Ndlovu needed more time to adapt to the club’s framework, but he now believes Ndlovu has made considerable strides.

Antonio van Wyk has also impressed the coach, with both players contributing to the strength and intensity Sundowns can bring from the substitutes’ bench.

“When you come off the bench there is always more space, but when you start the match the spaces are narrow, that’s why it’s important to play in different ways. It is important for us to have a strong bench, and I’m grateful that we are better this year and that we have players like Ndlovu and van Wyk that can keep the energy at a high level.”

Cardoso’s assessment suggests that Sundowns are still shaping their squad for the season rather than committing to a fixed group for the FIFA Cup match or the MTN8 final. The performances, workload and condition of the players in the intervening fixtures will help determine how the team approaches Al Ahli at Loftus Versfeld and Orlando Pirates on 10 October.