Sundowns fitness decisions to go down to wire for Williete SC tie

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso says several players will face late fitness tests before the club’s CAF Champions League second-leg qualifier against Williete SC in Angola.

The Brazilians are preparing for the decisive second preliminary round match after a demanding sequence of domestic and continental fixtures, with final selection decisions expected to be made shortly before kick-off.

Grant Kekana, Teboho Mokoena and Bathusi Aubaas were among the players absent from first-team training during Wednesday morning’s open media session at Chloorkop.

Cardoso said the squad had benefited from a short break after a congested schedule that included the African-Asian-Pacific Cup, the MTN8 semi-final and final, and Betway Premiership matches against Golden Arrows and Richards Bay.

“We are committed, we’ve had a beautiful restart, we had a few days of rest, we needed it,” Cardoso said.

“Fatigue is sometimes more mental than physical. We played a very important match in the past, the intercontinental, the MTN8 – we had a very difficult semi-final also that brought a lot of energy.

“Those three matches with Golden Arrows, then immediately after, we had to play in three days, Richards Bay – then to Angola, then we gave some air to the boys so we could find ourselves in the environment to play this game in the best conditions.”

Cardoso rejects selection mind games

The Portuguese coach was unable to confirm which players would be available, saying Sundowns’ medical staff would continue their assessments until the final stages of preparations.

He also rejected any suggestion that his uncertainty was an attempt to unsettle Williete SC, insisting he was not bluffing about the team’s fitness situation.

“I still have no news on who will be available. What I mean when I say who will be available or not available to be played, it will be until the last moment, and it’s not bluff at all,” he said.

“Sometimes other coaches are bluffing. Like when me and coach Ouaddou spoke before the MTN8 final, people were saying both coaches were playing mind games, not at all.”

Cardoso said he had just met the club’s doctors and that more decisions would be taken before training and the team’s departure for camp.

“In this case, I just finished a meeting with the doctors regarding some of those aspects, and tomorrow again, before training session briefing, we will take players even on camp that we won’t know if they can be lined up,” he said.

The coach made clear that no player would be selected if they could not contribute fully, with Sundowns needing maximum effort to secure progress.

“But the best ones will play, and we will not have players in the match, or pitch, that can only give 80% for sure because we need 100% from everyone,” he concluded.