Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has disclosed why striker Brayan Leon was absent when the Brazilians were held to a 0-0 draw by Richards Bay FC in a Betway Premiership match at Umhlathuze Sports Complex on Sunday.
Masandawana dropped points on the road and blew away an opportunity to return to the top of the table. They remain with a point less than leaders Orlando Pirates, who also drew on the same day in a 1-1 share of spoils with Kaizer Chiefs in the Soweto Derby.
Five league games remain for Sundowns before they wrap up their league campaign, while Pirates have four matches to go. On Sunday, the Tshwane giants were at Umhlathuze Sports Complex, where Richards Bay have been near-invincible this season.
It is a fortress that the Natal Rich Boyz have established, and the likes of Chiefs and Pirates have also been frustrated there. But Sundowns surprisingly arrived in KwaZulu-Natal without one of their top strikers, Leon.
The Colombian has become a key figure at Chloorkop, scoring 10 goals in 20 games across all competitions since arriving at the club in January.
WHY WAS LEON ABSENT FOR SUNDOWNS AGAINST RICHARDS BAY? CARDOSO RESPONDS
“A team that has to play [CAF] Champions League up to the end in a country where you have competitions one after the other just to please everybody,” said Cardoso. “Obviously, it makes us arrive in a moment of the season that we should be in the top conditions to perform, eventually with some losses. So, Brayan, yes, got injured.
“And Nuno [Santos] has not yet recovered. Now we lost Arthur [Sales], but it’s time for the other ones to show up, rather than for us to complain. It is what it is, obviously, it’s not good.”
With fatigue catching up with some players and the season at a critical stage, Cardoso foresees more injuries. That could also affect Bafana Bafana players earmarked by coach Hugo Broos for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
There was already a scare on Sunday when Pirates winger Tshepang Moremi was withdrawn from the Soweto Derby against Chiefs in the 35th minute, with a big concern about his knee.
“Let’s hope Bafana Bafana will not lose players throughout and have big losses for the World Cup because that’s what I expect in the next few weeks,” added Cardoso.
“There are more injuries to happen because it’s normal when the teams have to play in three days or seven matches in 21 days. What do we expect before the end of the season? Just injuries, injuries. Nothing more.”
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