Cardoso drops hint on Malibongwe Khoza’s role in Pirates showdown
Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has hinted whether 20-year-old defender Malibongwe Khoza will feature in the high-stakes Betway Premiership clash against Orlando Pirates on Saturday.
The two giants lock horns at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria on Saturday, with kick-off scheduled for 15:30 for the sold-out encounter.
Khoza, a product of the Sundowns academy, has been a revelation for the defending champions this season. The promising defender has made 19 appearances for Masandawana, starting 15 of those matches. His starts include games against Raja Casablanca and AS FAR Rabat in the CAF Champions League, where he delivered exceptional performances.
The match against The Buccaneers is arguably one of the biggest of his career, given the fierce rivalry and its significance, especially playing on home soil.
SUNDOWNS COACH MIGUEL CARDOSO COMMENTS ON KHOZA’S POTENTIAL INCLUSION IN PIRATES FIXTURE
“We don’t look at the passport or the citizenship document from the players regarding their age, their sex and colour. We don’t look at anything of that,” said Cardoso.
“We look at the values behaviours. If they share the values of the club, they share the values of the team, and they have the right behaviours on the pitch during the training sessions, we trust we put them to play.
“Obviously, each game has an approach, and each game also has an evaluation regarding the conditions of the players. I’m speaking out about Mali but in general. So that’s what we need to do daily because now it’s a really daily basis evaluation and management.”
The Portuguese mentor added that on Friday, they would decide who starts in the heart of defence. He has several options in that centre-back position.
New signings Lucas Suarez and Keanu Cupido add to the impressive list of central defenders that include Bafana Bafana defender Grant Kekana and Mosa Lebusa. Kegan Johannes can also play as a centre-back, while Mothobi Mvala is also close to returning from injury.
Cardoso emphasised that he was happy with the progress of Khoza. “So we’re happy with the work that Mali has been doing for the first year at the level of the first team of Mamelodi Sundowns, but he is doing well with the responsibility, so we trust him forever.”
SUNDOWNS-PIRATES CLASH COULD PROVE PIVOTAL IN TITLE RACE
This clash between the two giants could prove pivotal in the league title race. Sundowns have dominated the league for the past seven seasons, but Pirates have enjoyed their best start in recent memory and are determined to end that reign.
Currently, the two sides are separated by six points, though Pirates have a game in hand. After 14 matches, The Brazilians have amassed 39 points, while Pirates have collected 33 points from 13 games. A win for The Buccaneers in this fixture would close the gap to just three points, with a further game in hand.
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