Sundowns await fitness calls on Williams and Mokoena for CAF Super Cup

Mamelodi Sundowns will assess the fitness of goalkeeper Ronwen Williams and midfielder Teboho Mokoena before Sunday’s CAF Super Cup final against USM Alger, although coach Miguel Cardoso says neither player will be rushed back.

The pair have been unavailable since Sundowns’ shock CAF Champions League exit. They subsequently missed both of the club’s Carling Knockout Cup matches against Marumo Gallants and Golden Arrows, as well as the Betway Premiership meeting with Durban City.

Sundowns won all three games in their absence, but Cardoso would welcome their return for the final against the Algerian club, who are the reigning Confederation Cup champions.

However, the Portuguese coach stressed that player welfare remained the priority after Sundowns’ victory over Golden Arrows on Wednesday night.

“Look, we cannot risk the health of a player. That’s our goal here, to protect the players and the health of the players. Let’s see how things will progress,” Cardoso told the media.

“Obviously, we would like to have them ready for the biggest matches. I think that we have players who are doing well in those positions and we trust.”

Mokoena’s latest injury is his second problem involving the same leg. Cardoso said the midfielder had returned from international duty in poor condition before being involved in the MTN8 final, and was then hurt in an incident involving Wiliete.

“We had a big setback with Teboho as understood. He did not come in close to being in good condition from the national team. He came injured and it was important that we could play in that final of the MTN8, but then there was an unfortunate action against Wiliete, where he was standing on one leg and he had a contact and, of course, there was a small thing on the leg,” he said.

“But then again, it’s the second time. Same leg, same thing. Let’s see. A lot of work has been done on him. I think his mood is okay. His capacity to play, let’s see.”

Cardoso described Williams’ recovery as a similar process, although he said the goalkeeper’s issue was not a major injury.

“Ronza is a similar process. It’s not a big injury, it’s more pathology. He has also been struggling and we are making our best to have him in proper conditions because we need to protect these players,” he added.

“I think with a little bit of time, everything will be okay.”

Sundowns won the CAF Super Cup in 2017 under former head coach Pitso Mosimane. They will have the chance to claim the trophy again at the same venue, Loftus Stadium.