Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has provided a concerning injury update on Khuliso Mudau after the right-back limped off the pitch during Wednesday’s match against Marumo Gallants in the Betway Premiership.
The Bafana Bafana international picked up an injury in Sundowns’ dominant 2-0 victory over Gallants in a league tie at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria.
Sundowns collected maximum points at home with goals from centre-back Malibongwe Khoza and forward Cassius Mailula. The three points propelled Downs to third place on the league table with seven points from three matches. Masandawana are on the same number of points as Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs, who occupy first and second place, respectively, with superior goal differences.
In a match against Gallants, the Brazilians suffered a major blow, losing yet another key player as injuries continue to rock the club’s camp in the new 2026/27 season.
Mudau was substituted off just after the 30th minute mark due to an injury, leaving the Sundowns technical team and fans worried as the matches are coming thick and fast.
The highly-rated defender is joining players such as Teboho Mokoena, Nuno Santos and Khulumani Ndamane on the injury list.
WHAT MIGUEL CARDOSO SAID ABOUT MUDAU’S INJURY
Addressing the media after the Gallants match, Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has revealed that Mudau is likely to be sidelined for a long period after suffering an Achilles injury.
“Unfortunately today [Wednesday], we got a severe injury from Khuliso Mudau, and he will be out for sure for a long time,” Cardoso said.
“It’s an Achilles rupture. So tomorrow [Thursday] he will be seen by the specialist so that we can start the recovery process. We can’t control that; it was an action that happened when he was alone. There was no contact; it was not a tackle from an opponent.
“It happens like an accident in racing cars; injuries like this happen in football as much as we try to avoid them, we can’t control them”.
According to Foot & Ankle Specialists, recovery timelines for Achilles injuries vary significantly based on severity. Athletes dealing with mild tendinitis can expect a relatively quick turnaround of 2 to 6 weeks with proper rest and treatment. Moderate tears require a longer commitment, typically taking 6 to 12 weeks of targeted rehabilitation before returning to full strength.
For the most severe cases—a complete Achilles rupture—the road to recovery stretches from 6 to 12 months, often requiring surgical intervention and intensive, long-term rehabilitation before getting back on the pitch.
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