Mamelodi Sundowns welcome back Fernandes for MTN8 final against Orlando Pirates

Mamelodi Sundowns will have their full technical team available when they meet Orlando Pirates in Saturday’s MTN8 final at Moses Mabhida Stadium, with the winners set to receive R10 million and the trophy.

The match brings together the two most successful teams in South Africa over the past decade. Sundowns will be strengthened by the return of assistant coach Fabio Fernandes, who has completed a two-match suspension and is eligible to take his place on the bench.

Fernandes was sent off during Sundowns’ 2-1 victory over Golden Arrows a month ago. His suspension ruled him out of the domestic matches against Siwelele FC and Chippa United.

The assistant coach has regularly faced disciplinary trouble with match officials since arriving in South Africa. In his absence, Quim ‘Pinto’ Pedro sat alongside Steve Komphela as Cardoso’s two assistant coaches.

Conditioning coach Sindiso Dube and goalkeeper coach Kennedy Mweene occupied the remaining seats on the bench during those matches.

Sundowns strengthen technical structure

Sundowns have also expanded their backroom staff with the appointment of Ruben Jose Ribeiro Santos as an assistant coach.

He will work alongside Pedro and the club’s two other assistants who do not take their places on the bench on match days. The group forms part of a Portuguese connection at the Tshwane club, which also includes team analyst Goncalo Barbosa.

The wider analysis department consists of Paul Lamb, Tinashe Mukandatsama and Jason Sergel.

Dube is one of two physical trainers, working with Diogo Perpetuo, who is of Brazilian origin. Dube also performs the same role for the Zimbabwe national team.

Theo Sokanyile is the club’s masseur, while Carl Tabane and Paul Maphoto serve as team doctors. The medical structure also includes kinesiologists Stuart McGregor and Mojalefa Santos, with Sakhumzi Ngwevela and Godfrey Sepuru working as physiotherapists.

Thato Mashego is the equipment manager, supported by his senior colleague Freddy Zungu.

The team management group is made up of Khaled Khalil, Thami Khuzwayo and Kagiso Marumo.

With Fernandes returning for the final, Sundowns will go into the contest with all of their technical team members available as they attempt to claim the MTN8 prize against Orlando Pirates.