Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has given an assessment of Zuko Mdunyelwa’s performance in the absence of Khuliso Mudau and Thapelo Morena against Marumo Gallants.
Masandawana brushed aside Gallants with a dominant 3-1 victory in the Betway Premiership on Tuesday night at Loftus Versfeld Stadium. The Tshwane giants went into the half-time break level at 1-1 against Bahlabane Ba Ntwa before Teboho Mokoena came on as a second-half substitute to net a brace that secured maximum points for the home side.
After beating Gallants, the results meant that Sundowns have won seven consecutive league games since the start of 2026. Sundowns are currently sitting at the top of the league table with 50 points in 21 matches. Meanwhile, Orlando Pirates are occupying the second position on the log with 48 points, with the same number of games.
In a match against Gallants, Downs were sweating over the unavailability of two of their experienced right-backs. Mudau was serving a one-match suspension after receiving his fourth yellow card of the campaign, while Morena is out with an injury.
WHAT CARDOSO SAID ABOUT MDUNYELWA’S SHOWING IN THE ABSENCE OF MUDAU AND MORENA
Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso called upon Zuko Mdunyelwa to occupy the right wing-back position in the absence of the two Bafana Bafana stars. The former Chippa United defender returned to the matchday squad after being missing in action due to an injury sustained in the first-half of the 2025/26 season.
Mdunyelwa produced an impressive performance against Gallants, helping Sundowns both in defence and attack. His coach showered him with praise, admitting that they didn’t think he could play 90 minutes after being sidelined for months with an injury.
“We knew that it could be a little bit tricky to expose him to 90 minutes after he got injured in the national team [in September 2025], I think I spoke about that, he had a muscle injury,” Cardoso said. “So basically, he had a setback, and playing today [Tuesday] in a moment that Morena is injured, we had to handle it in a way that is not risky.
“But it was comfortable for us, most importantly, comfortable for him, because it showed that we trust him. I think he did well. Obviously, when you play systematically, you get the confidence to play well after so many months without playing official matches. Anyway, he played friendlies where he showed that he was on the level to play.”
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