Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has opened up on the challenges facing his side amid reports of possible exits of some of the club’s key players, including Lucas Ribeiro and Peter Shalulile, among others.
The Brazilians returned to winning form with a 2-0 win over AmaZulu at Loftus Versfeld on Tuesday evening, thanks to goals from Iqraam Rayners and Tashreeq Matthews.
ALSO READ | Pirates coach: My plan for Appollis...
The victory comes amid what has been somewhat of a controversial period for the Betway Premiership champions, as several of the club’s key players are linked with exits, and reports of unhappiness within the squad.
Star-man Lucas Ribeiro is not with the team, while attacker Kutlwano Lekau has handed in a transfer request. Meanwhile. Thapelo Maseko has also voiced his unhappiness via social media in recent days.
Speaking at the post-match press conference on Tuesday, Cardoso was candid in his assessment of the internal challenges facing Sundowns.
"It is not easy to deal with what’s happening in the team and not worry about that or not be concerned about that, or not believe it’s not impacting the team, we would be naive to think things can happen and the players don’t relate with those things," the Portuguese coach admitted.
"They do, they are friends, they are inside the locker room, they for sure speak [to each other], so it’s impossible [that they are not affected], but it’s possible to keep a strong mentality and a strong will to win every match, despite those things happening.
"It is the values we want to grow and that we have inside the locker room, that don’t allow the direction of the team or club to go this way because of events that might happen [players leaving]."
READ | Back to square one for Lorch
Having impressed at the recent FIFA Club World Cup, Sundowns is believed to be inundated by offers for some of their key players.
"The transfer market is always tough, and after a Club World Cup where the team performs the way they performed, there’s always going to be instability of proposals that arrive that can touch the players, it’s like that, it’s obviously like that," Cardoso added.
Sundowns will have to put their problems aside as they prepare for the MTN8 semi-final against Orlando Pirates.
The match will be played at a sold-out Orlando Stadium on Saturday.
Photo: Gallo Images/Sydney Seshibedi