No straight answers from Miguel Cardoso on Sundowns trio’s absence

The Brazilians returned to action for the 2025/26 season on Sunday night by thrashing Richards Bay 4-0 and progress to the semifinals of the MTN8 where they now face Orlando Pirates over two legs. 

However, the victory was a little overshadowed by the absence of key players in right back Mudau as well as strikers Ribeiro and Shalulile. 

It’s understood all three could be leaving Chloorkop, but Cardoso was tight-lipped when asked about their futures.  

"I will not, as in my understanding, start discussing what's happening with Lucas or Mudau or Peter or Thapelo Morena that also was not here today. Thapelo has had a small injury, it's nothing big, just a small injury but obviously for the coach, the coach always wants to have the team as complete as possible,” Cardoso said. 

“All coaches want to receive the reinforcements for the new season as quickly as possible. So, it's not where we are but it doesn't mean that we are not able to cope with our responsibilities. 

“Me, myself I have to work on solutions rather than problems, otherwise if I hang to the problems I won't be able to also perform myself in a proper way.

“But it's obvious that we would like to have been able to start the season from where we left, with all the players as strong as possible but no one should think that Mamelodi Sundowns would ever be not in the level it has to be and for sure people in charge will take their responsibility to realise the things in proper time."

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The Portuguese mentor took the opportunity to also reiterate how Sundowns go about their transfer business and player recruitment. 

Part of Cardoso’s answer was also around Thembinkosi Lorch. 

"It's important we clarify that in Sundowns it's not the coach that chooses the players. I don't choose the players, the players in Mamelodi Sundowns are chosen by the coach, the sports director and the board and the president, so that's how the players come to the club,” he added. 

“It's not up to me to say I want that one and if you don't bring him, I'm not happy, I don't make those decisions. We look at profiles, we try to select the best profiles and as a business of course I have the technical opinion that I can give and it's in accordance that we bring players in. 

“If it was not like that, probably it would be more quicker and we should not waste resources by bringing players that we really did not want to bring. 

“Regarding Lorch, Lorch like Lucas, like Peter, like Mudau, I'm not gonna discuss it here but Lorch is a situation that comes from the past and also will be addressed and solved by the club and in proper time you'll have information that will be public."