Cardoso tight-lipped on Sundowns missing players

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso is not willing to be drawn into conversations about the absence of star players Khuliso Mudau, Lucas Ribeiro and Peter Shalulile.

Sundowns cruised into the MTN8 semi-finals with a 4–0 win over Richards Bay on Sunday night, thanks to a brace from Iqraam Rayners, an own goal by Simphiwe Mcineka, and a strike from Siyabonga Mabena.

However, despite the convincing victory, questions have been raised about the absence of Downs’ key players, with Ribeiro and Shalulile linked with moves, while Mudau has been absent during pre-season training.

However, Cardoso insisted he will not go into detail about the missing players, only revealing that Thapelo Morena is unavailable due to an injury.

“I will not go here, as you might understand, to start discussing what’s happening with Lucas or Mudau or Peter or Thapelo Morena, that also was not here today,” he said after the match.

“Thapelo, basically had a small injury, nothing big, but he had a small injury,” he added.

The Portuguese mentor says the club is looking to deal with the issues internally.

“All those issues are being solved by the club and they will be [made available to the] public in the proper time,” he said.

Cardoso also refused to shed light on the future of Thembinkosi Lorch after the player returned from Wydad Athletic in Morocco, where he spent last season on loan.

“Regarding Lorch, like Lucas, like Peter, like Mudau, I will not be discussing it here. Lorch is a situation that is coming from the past and [that] will also be addressed by the club at the proper time, and you will have the information and it will be made public, for sure.”