Players are not machines: Cardoso

Mamelodi Sundowns coach, Miguel Cardoso, has cried foul over his side’s crunch Betway Premiership clash against Orlando Pirates being played on Sunday and not Saturday.

Cardoso says Saturday would have given some of his players a day to rest before reporting for national team camps.

Ronwen Williams, Grant Kekana, Aubrey Modiba, Khuliso Mudau, Teboho Mokoena, Bathusi Aubaas, Jayden Adams and Thapelo Morena are in the Bafana squad for 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Benin next week.

Peter Shalulile and Divine Lunga will be linking up with Namibia and Zimbabwe, respectively.

“It is not good that this match [against Pirates] was put on Sunday because players will go immediately to the national team camp and this means they will not have time to rest,” said Cardoso.

“Football players are not machines, they are human beings with families, social lives and physicality, they need to be respected. Sometimes we demand performances from players all the time even when they are not capable to perform in the best way. I want the national team of South Africa to win as much as possible because that is what I am working for.”

The champions will be facing off with the Buccaneers at FNB Stadium, in Johannesburg. Written by Ntsako Mkhari