Sundowns defenders Cupido and Sales could be sidelined until November

Mamelodi Sundowns may have to wait until November to welcome back key defender Keanu Cupido and Brazilian attacker Arthur Sales, with coach Miguel Cardoso warning against optimistic recovery timelines.

Cupido played a pivotal role in Sundowns’ CAF Champions League triumph last season, featuring in both legs of the final despite carrying a shoulder injury sustained during a Betway Premiership match against Kaizer Chiefs.

Images showing the defender wearing his arm in a sling have circulated on social media since the injury, which he suffered in the match against Amakhosi. Despite the problem, Cupido completed both legs of the Champions League final as Sundowns won the competition for only the second time in their history.

He has not featured in either of Sundowns’ opening two matches of the new season. The South African champions conceded four goals across those games, but Cupido is not expected to return until towards the end of the year.

Sales is also facing a lengthy absence and could be available around November. The Brazilian forward has undergone two operations, one involving his shoulder and another involving his pelvis, where he had already been carrying an issue.

“Sales, like Keanu, will be a long-term situation,” Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso revealed recently.

“I think you are being optimistic when you speak that they are going to be back at the end of August. They are not. They will be back at the end of maybe November. Arthur made a double surgery, shoulder and pelvis because he already had something and then his shoulder he had to be admitted because he had an issue there. And then Keanu unfortunately we tried conservative treatment on him.

“He played the Champions League final. He was so important, but then he had to make a surgery and the surgery he will take a long time to recovery from. Let’s not really put pressure on their recovery.”

Cardoso’s comments came after Sundowns’ 3-2 victory over Polokwane City in the MTN8 quarter-finals. The club then recorded another 3-2 win, this time against TS Galaxy in the Betway Premiership at Mbombela Stadium last night.

Although Sundowns secured six goals across the two victories, the manner in which they conceded four has likely given Cardoso cause for concern. The absence of Cupido, who was a major figure during the club’s Champions League success, leaves the coach without an important defensive option as the season develops.

The projected returns of Cupido and Sales mean Sundowns could need to manage the early part of the campaign without two players who were expected to contribute significantly. Cardoso has made clear that neither should be rushed back, particularly after the severity of their respective injuries and procedures.