Miguel Cardoso gives injury update ahead of Remo clash | OneFootball

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Cardoso provides long-term, short-term injury update

Photo: Lefty Shivambu/ Gallo Images

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has provided an injury update ahead of the second leg of their CAF Champions League second preliminary round clash against Remo Stars on Sunday.

The Tshwane giants will host the Nigerian champions at Loftus Versfeld Stadium, retaining a healthy four-goal cushion after securing a commanding 5-1 win in the first leg.

With the return leg looming, the Portuguese mentor confirmed defender Mothobi Mvala is set for a prolonged spell on the sidelines as he recently underwent a surgery after suffering a setback, stating that the victory in Nigeria was dedicated to him.

“We have unfortunately some more severe questions like Mothobi Mvala that had a surgery last week. Even in the locker room last week [vs Remo], we spoke a lot spoke about it. I asked that we should make a good job, take the spirit of Mothobi inside the pitch and I think the team did it,” said Cardoso.

"We wanted to honor him with a good match, so it's the most difficult situation we have in hands, in terms of long-term recovery time needed to come back.

Cardoso went on to give a detailed injury update on the short-term absentees, including starlet Malibongwe Khoza, Zuko Mdunyelwa, captain Themba Zwane and prolific goal poacher Iqraam Rayners.

“The other issues we have are smaller. We have Zuko [Mdunyelwa] already training normal with the team. We have Mali [Khoza] that got a small injury on the ankle as you saw he was substituted [against Remo], it's not a huge thing - there is nothing broken, we were a little bit afraid it might be some bone crash, but there isn't. So, he will come back in proper time,” the 53-year-old tactician added.

"We have Themba [Zwane] also on his recovery process, it's not something that will finish in one week but also we don't expect it to take long. But we need to be careful, he's a very important asset like everybody - it's also a question of human being, we need to bring him up in the best conditions for him to be available for us.

"And then there's the question on Iqraam Rayners as you know he came back from the national team [due to injury] and thank God due to his biology and physiology, and the effort of the doctors and the exams he did - we were able to see there is no issue in terms of cardiac question that will take him out of his career.

He continued: "It's a minor thing thank God. We need to also give him some time. He is now starting to train with the team - he was two weeks absolutely without training but he started yesterday [Wednesday] and today he trained and integrated in the team and he made all the training sessions. So, we should expect Iqraam to now get on his condition and be available again for the team.