How Mamelodi Sundowns plan to use the FIFA break

With several high-profile stars joining their national teams for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, Cardoso will have a smaller group to work with.

The Portuguese coach says the break will allow Sundowns to balance rest and recovery while also assessing the squad’s depth. 

Yeah, we're going to lose. Lose? We're not going to lose. They will just not be with us.

Besides Bafana Bafana, there's also Denis who is going to the national team and Divine is also going to the national team and we still have the call-up for the under 23's to come. So let's see if some of our younger players will also be called-up. So there's probably more players that will not be with us," said Cardoso

READ: Sundowns FIFA Cup victory to live in history books – Aubrey Modiba

"What we're going to do, obviously, is work very, very strongly with the ones that are staying. We have a first cycle of work until Wednesday. Then we're going to give everybody the opportunity to enjoy a few days off - the ones that stay.

We have a friendly match on Wednesday and then after that small period of a few days, we're going to obviously start the preparation of a second cycle that finishes with two friendlies so that we can also have those players in the best level." 

One of the players likely to benefit from the recess is attacker Arthur Sales, a player Cardoso is eager to see return to full fitness.  

The coach also gave an update on defender Keanu Cupido, who had surgery on his shoulder towards the end of last season. 

"I would also like to remind you all that Keanu is a strong absence, but we expect him to recover - not that quickly, absolutely not - but later in the year. I think he is now starting to have a small smile on his face. That situation became a little more serious than we expected, but the medical department is working hard on it and trying to resolve it so that we have an extra player. We are going to need everybody, as I said; when one falls down, two have to get up, and that's the way we have to progress. We are excited for what we have ahead, of course."