Former Premier Soccer League coach Mlungisi Ngubane believes that Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso is gradually phasing out the veteran players at the club.
Cardoso has faced significant criticism for not including crowd favorites Themba Zwane and Peter Shalulile in his starting line-ups.
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Ngubane holds Cardoso responsible for Sundowns’ loss in the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League final against Pyramids.
"The Sundowns coach cost them the match on Sunday. While we’re not suggesting he should be sacked, he does need to evaluate his decisions more critically," Ngubane tells KickOff.
"Since Cardoso arrived, Shalulile has not played a full game. On Sunday, they needed him more than the young player Tashreeq Matthews. He should have started with Shalulile, Ribeiro, and Rayners, and brought in Mshishi in the second half.
"If you take Mshishi to Egypt and leave him on the bench, it indicates that he is 100% fit. However, Cardoso seems to favor Arthur Sales. I’m sure Cardoso’s assistant, Steve Komphela, advised him about Mshishi, but he didn’t want to listen.
"Mshishi can disrupt the opposition and create space for players like Ribeiro. Most importantly, he can score goals.
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"While Matthews is a talented player, the match against Pyramids was far too significant for him. He didn’t deserve to stay on the pitch for 70 minutes.
"I believe this coach is trying to phase out Shalulile and Mshishi because of their age. By excluding them from games, he’s signaling that they won't be needed for next season. That’s my observation."
