Sundowns Facing Fitness Race With Bafana Trio
Mamelodi Sundowns may contest the MTN8 final without key players injured while away on international duty.
Coach Miguel Cardoso is now facing an anxious wait as Bafana Bafana’s 5-0 win over Eritrea came at a cost.
Ahead of a bruising clash against Orlando Pirates, Sundowns may need to test their squad depth even further.
Even after a busy domestic transfer window, the 15-time Premier Soccer League champions have been among the hardest hit by injuries.
Defender Khuliso Mudau ruptured his Achilles tendon in the win over Marumo Gallants in August and is only expected to return by February next year.
Keanu Cupido is recovering from shoulder surgery and is expected back in November, while Grant Kekana is working back to fitness after a quadriceps strain.
Adding to Cardoso’s woes, three players were injured while on national duty for the AFCON 2027 qualifiers, leaving the team’s defences stretched thin.
Aubrey Modiba had a tight hamstring after the win over Guinea in September, while Teboho Mokoena missed the Eritrea game due to an unspecified injury.
His replacement, Bathusi Aubaas, left the field early in Cairo and is not expected to play in the MTN8 final at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in just over a week.
According to some reports, Mokoena’s injury is less serious than first assumed, and he is facing a race against time to feature against Orlando Pirates in Durban.
Modiba’s recovery period is less certain, with some sources suggesting that the left-back may not be available for the MTN8 final.
Both players are regular starters for Sundowns, meaning Cardoso will need to make adjustments to ensure his defensive line withstands the pressure.
Aubaas, meanwhile, has started off the bench recently, but the initial reports seem to suggest that he will not be cleared for the Buccaneers game.
As it stands, none of these three Mamelodi Sundowns players are likely to feature in the friendly against Egypt in Cairo on 4 October.
They will need this time to focus on recovery, and with the days counting down, can only hope they will be on the field with a major trophy on the line.
Cardoso, like Mosimane against Egypt, is set to face a crucial test in Durban and a true test of whether his team has the depth for any situation.
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