Sundowns cleared of suspension concerns before MTN8 final

Mamelodi Sundowns will have no suspension-related selection problems for Saturday’s MTN8 final against Orlando Pirates at Moses Mabhida Stadium, although several players remain one booking away from a ban.

Apart from those currently injured, Sundowns’ squad will be available for selection as they prepare for the meeting with Pirates.

Teboho Mokoena has collected three yellow cards this season, but one of those cautions came in a competition outside the PSL. That means he is not suspended for the domestic cup final.

Mokoena, Brayan Leon Muniz and Nuno Santos were all booked during Sundowns’ African-Asian-Pacific Cup victory against Al Ahli. Because the competition does not fall under the PSL, those cautions do not count towards the players’ domestic suspension totals.

The clarification also gives Mokoena time to recover from the injury that limited him to one of Bafana Bafana’s three appearances during the FIFA dates.

Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane left Mokoena out of the matches against Eritrea and Egypt, allowing the midfielder to focus on recovering in time for the final.

Leon is in a similar position to Mokoena after receiving his third yellow card of the season in the African-Asian-Pacific Cup. The Colombian has two cautions recorded in domestic competition and is therefore also eligible to play against Orlando Pirates.

Grant Kekana is another player close to a suspension, having accumulated three domestic yellow cards. However, he will only receive a one-match ban if he is booked for a fourth time this season, meaning he can feature in the MTN8 final.

Thabang Matuludi is also available after completing a suspension from the previous season earlier in the current campaign, while he was still registered with Polokwane City.

The Bafana defender is not cup tied because he did not play for Polokwane City in their MTN8 defeat by Sundowns. He is consequently eligible to represent Sundowns in the final.

Sundowns still have five players carrying two yellow cards each: Tashreeq Matthews, Malibongwe Khoza, Marcelo Allende, Khulumani Ndamane and Bathusi Aubaas.

Any of those players would move closer to a suspension with another booking, but none is currently ruled out of the MTN8 final on disciplinary grounds.