Cardoso says Sundowns will not rush Williams and Mokoena

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has given an update on the fitness of goalkeeper Ronwen Williams and midfielder Teboho Mokoena, as the club prepare for the CAF Super Cup. According to iDiski Times, Cardoso made it clear that Sundowns will not take unnecessary risks with either player.

Cardoso puts player health first

Both players are in a race against time to be fit for the continental match. Cardoso said the club would like to have them available for the biggest games, but protecting their long-term wellbeing comes first.

“We cannot risk the health of a player,” Cardoso said, adding that this is the technical team’s responsibility. He also said the coaching staff trust the other players who are performing well in those positions.

What happened to Mokoena

Cardoso explained that Mokoena came back from national team duty in poor physical condition. The midfielder still played in the MTN8 final because it was an important match, but he then suffered another setback in Sundowns’ game against Wiliete SC.

According to the coach, Mokoena was standing on one leg when he took a knock, which Cardoso described as a small problem with the leg. A lot of work has been done on the player, and Cardoso pointed to his good spirits: “you saw him smiling and dancing”.

Cardoso would not give a firm date for a return, however. He said Mokoena’s mood and his physical readiness to play are two separate matters, and the club must protect him.

Williams on a similar path

Cardoso said Williams is going through a similar recovery process. He did not consider the goalkeeper’s problem serious, saying “it’s not a big injury”, but noted that Williams had been struggling. The club is working to get him back in proper condition and wants to take its time.

The coach repeated that Sundowns would rather be patient than risk making either player’s condition worse at such an important point in the campaign.

What to know for Sunday

• The CAF Super Cup is scheduled for Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.
• Kick-off is at 15h00 this Sunday.
• Neither Williams nor Mokoena has been confirmed fit or ruled out. Cardoso said only that the club will “see how things will progress”.

Supporters will have to wait for the team announcement closer to kick-off to learn whether either player will be involved.

This story is based on reporting by iDiski Times.