Miguel Cardoso Addresses Player Exit Rumours and Challenges at Mamelodi Sundowns
Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has spoken openly about the challenges facing his team amid reports of possible departures of key players, including Lucas Ribeiro and Peter Shalulile.
The Betway Premiership champions returned to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over AmaZulu at Loftus Versfeld on Tuesday night. Goals from Iqraam Rayners and Tashreeq Matthews secured the result, but off-field issues continue to dominate headlines.
Star forward Lucas Ribeiro is currently absent from the squad, while attacker Kutlwano Lekau has submitted a transfer request. Thapelo Maseko has also publicly expressed his unhappiness on social media.
Speaking after the match, Cardoso admitted that the uncertainty surrounding player exits has created a challenging environment.
“It is not easy to deal with what’s happening in the team and not worry about that or believe it’s not impacting the players. We would be naive to think that. They are friends, they share the locker room, and they talk to each other, so it’s impossible for them not to be affected,” the Portuguese coach said.
He stressed the importance of maintaining a strong mentality despite the distractions. “It’s possible to keep a strong will to win every match, despite those things happening. It is the values we want to grow inside the locker room that will ensure the direction of the team is not derailed by players leaving.”
Following their impressive showing at the recent FIFA Club World Cup, Sundowns have reportedly received multiple offers for their top performers.
“The transfer market is always tough, and after a Club World Cup performance like ours, instability is inevitable. Proposals arrive, and they can influence players. That’s just the reality,” Cardoso added.
Sundowns now turn their attention to the MTN8 semi-final clash against Orlando Pirates at a sold-out Orlando Stadium on Saturday, where they will aim to put off-field issues aside and focus on delivering results.
