Mamelodi Sundowns to use FIFA break to boost squad fitness

Mamelodi Sundowns will use the three-week FIFA break to improve the conditioning of players who have had limited playing time since the start of the 2026/27 season, coach Miguel Cardoso says.

Several of the club’s senior players are expected to join their national teams for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, leaving the Portuguese coach with a reduced squad to manage.

Cardoso says the break will allow Sundowns to combine recovery time with intensive training, while also giving him an opportunity to assess the strength and depth of his squad.

“Yeah, we’re going to lose. Lose? We’re not going to lose. They will just not be with us,” he said.

“Besides Bafana Bafana, there’s also Denis who is going to the national team and Divine is also going to the national team and we still have the call-up for the under 23’s to come.

“So let’s see if some of our younger players will also be called-up. So there’s probably more players that will not be with us.”

The remaining players will begin with a demanding training period before being given a short break, Cardoso explained.

“What we’re going to do, obviously, is work very, very strongly with the ones that are staying. We have a first cycle of work until Wednesday,” he said.

“Then we’re going to give everybody the opportunity to enjoy a few days off – the ones that stay.”

Sundowns are scheduled to play a friendly on Wednesday. After the short rest period, preparations will resume for a second training cycle, which will conclude with two further friendly matches.

Cardoso says the aim is to ensure the players are in the best possible condition when the squad is reunited.

“We have a friendly match on Wednesday and then after that small period of a few days, we’re going to obviously start the preparation of a second cycle that finishes with two friendlies so that we can also have those players in the best level,” he said.

Attacker Arthur Sales is among those who could benefit from the interruption to competitive football, with Cardoso keen to see him regain full fitness.

The coach also provided an update on defender Keanu Cupido, who underwent shoulder surgery towards the end of last season.

Cupido remains a significant absentee and is not expected to return quickly, although Sundowns hope he will be available later in the year.

“I would also like to remind you all that Keanu is a strong absence, but we expect him to recover – not that quickly, absolutely not – but later in the year,” said Cardoso.

“I think he is now starting to have a small smile on his face. That situation became a little more serious than we expected, but the medical department is working hard on it and trying to resolve it so that we have an extra player.

“We are going to need everybody, as I said; when one falls down, two have to get up, and that’s the way we have to progress. We are excited for what we have ahead, of course.”