Mamelodi Sundowns’ right-back riches could leave Mosimane with Bafana Bafana headache

Mamelodi Sundowns have confirmed the signing of Thabang Matuludi, giving the club three of South Africa’s leading right-backs and potentially creating a difficult selection decision for Bafana Bafana head coach Pitso Mosimane.

Matuludi’s move to Chloorkop was announced on Friday afternoon. The defender is expected to provide cover for Khuliso Mudau, who is currently injured and remains the established first-choice right-back in the national team.

His arrival comes only days after Sundowns completed the signing of free agent Deano van Rooyen. Van Rooyen was initially brought in as cover for Mudau, but the club renewed their long-standing interest in Matuludi after his outstanding performances for Polokwane City.

The three players now form an imposing group of right-back options for Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso. Their strength in that position should give the club greater depth as they attempt to defend their Betway Premiership title while competing on all continental fronts.

For Mosimane, however, Sundowns’ recruitment could create a very different challenge.

Once Mudau, Matuludi and van Rooyen are all fully fit, regular first-team football at club level is likely to be available to only one of them. The other two could find themselves used as substitutes or left out of match-day squads, rather than starting consistently.

That would represent a significant change for Mudau and Matuludi, who had both been regular starters before the latest developments, with Mudau featuring for Sundowns and Matuludi establishing himself at Polokwane City.

The decision to bring in two elite right-backs during the same transfer window is also likely to prompt questions about Sundowns’ recruitment strategy after an especially busy period of transfer activity.

Cardoso has sought to draw a distinction between coaching and recruitment at the club. He stressed that identifying and signing players is not part of his immediate responsibilities, with Sundowns relying on a dedicated scouting team to find suitable targets.

The Portuguese coach is understood to welcome Matuludi’s arrival and the additional depth it gives his squad. Mosimane, though, could take a more critical view of Sundowns concentrating so much national-team-level talent in one position.

Mudau and Matuludi were previously starting week in, week out for Sundowns and Polokwane City respectively. With van Rooyen now also competing for the same role, Bafana Bafana’s manager may have to assess players whose club involvement could become less regular despite the quality of the options available to him.

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