Bafana Bafana right-back, Khuliso Mudau, has been absent from Mamelodi Sundowns since the start of the season, and his situation at the club has been explained.
The highly-rated defender was not even with the team during the pre-season and has yet to make the matchday squad in the new 2025/26 season.
Mudau, who was named in coach Hugo Broos’s preliminary Bafana Bafana squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers next month, has missed Sundowns’ first five matches of the season. He was not part of the MTN8 quarterfinal tie against Richards Bay, which they won 4-0.
Mudau also missed the 1-1 draw against Chippa United, the 2-0 wins over AmaZulu FC and Magesi FC in the league, and the MTN8 semi-final first leg against Orlando Pirates last weekend, which ended in a 1-1 draw.
Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso also confirmed that he was yet to return to training and, in all likelihood, would still miss the upcoming MTN8 second leg in Pretoria on Saturday.
The Brazilians recently opted to extend his contract by a year after it expired at the end of June. Although there have been offers, particularly from North Africa, Sundowns have reportedly made it clear he is not for sale.
The player’s agent, Steve Kapeluschnik, has informed SABC Sport that their goal is to negotiate improved terms to secure stability for the player.
KHULISO MUDAU AND SUNDOWNS INVOLVED IN NEGOTIATIONS
“The situation seems clear. Sundowns are not considering any transfer right now. Khuliso is an important player for the team, and the club wants to keep it that way. I’ve brought multiple offers, and they’ve all been rejected. Even today, I received two calls from Morocco enquiring about the player, but it seems to me like Sundowns want to keep him,” Kapeluschnik told the public broadcaster.
He added that the Limpopo-born star was eager to return to action soon. Broos will be hoping his issue is resolved soon. Mudau is the South African national team’s number one right back and will be key in the qualifiers against Nigeria and Lesotho early in September. Both fixtures are scheduled for Bloemfontein.
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