Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has opened up on the club’s internal issues, admitting that dealing with the situation at the club is not easy.
In recent weeks, Sundowns have made headlines following allegations of unhappiness from a handful of first-team players.
The Brazilians began the 2025/26 season two weeks ago with an MTN8 quarter-final clash against Richards Bay FC, winning 4-0 at the Lucas Moripe Stadium.
After the impressive victory in the cup competition, Sundowns shifted their focus to the league action. Downs opened their Betway Premiership campaign with a disappointing 1-1 draw against Chippa United this past weekend.
However, the Chloorkop-based side redeemed themselves on Tuesday night and returned to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over AmaZulu FC at Loftus Versfeld Stadium.
Since the start of the new season, Sundowns have been without some of their key players, including Khuliso Mudau and Lucas Ribeiro Costa. The duo has reportedly attracted interest abroad, and their future at the club remains uncertain as they’re yet to feature in all three matches played so far.
Meanwhile, talented wingers Thapelo Maseko and Kutlwano Letlhaku are reportedly also unsettled, and they’re looking to find game time elsewhere.
A few days ago, Maseko took to Instagram to express his dissatisfaction, revealing that he lost his love for football due to being ‘unseen’ despite working hard at training.
Miguel Cardoso has since addressed the issues, stating that players speak amongst themselves, and it’s not easy dealing with the situation.
CARDOSO OPTIMISTIC ABOUT SUNDOWNS’ INTERNAL ISSUES
“It’s not easy to deal with what’s happening in the team, and it will be naive to believe that it’s not impacting the team,” Cardoso said.
“We would be absolutely naive to think that things can happen and players don’t relate with those things because they do, they are friends, they share the locker room, and I’m sure they speak.
“But it’s possible to keep a strong mentality and a strong will to win every match despite those things happening. That’s the value we have in the locker room. We don’t allow the direction of the team to be in a bad way because of the events that might happen.
“The [transfer] market is always very tough, and after the [2025 FIFA] Club World Cup, where the team performed at the level that they have, there’s always the instability with proposals that arrive, but the club is very professional with how to deal with these things.
“The maturity we have in the locker room will allow players to know that things are being handled in the right way. It will take time because you need time to solve those things, but in proper time, they will be solved.”
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