Mamelodi Sundowns Coach Miguel Cardoso Declares Team's Determination to Win MTN8 Trophy

The head coach of Mamelodi Sundowns, Miguel Cardoso, believes that Tato Sibiya has significant potential to accelerate his professional growth if he moves to the French club Lille, which plays in Ligue 1.

This 20-year-old defender has become one of South Africa's most promising young talents. He played a key role in the South African U20 squad, which won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2025, and subsequently participated in the U20 World Cup in Chile.

Although Sibiya participated in the Sundowns first team's training camp in Austria, he now plans to continue his development in France. According to available information, Sundowns have agreed on a loan deal with an option to buy, and it is expected that Sibiya will join Lille.

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Cardoso, who previously worked in France, believes that such a step will provide the young player with an ideal environment for development, although he acknowledges the high level of competition Sibiya will face.

"Regarding Tato, this is a fantastic opportunity," Cardoso stated on Monday. He added that since he himself coached in France, he is well acquainted with the club, its infrastructure facilities, and the stability of the young athlete preparation process.

The Portuguese coach is also convinced that Sibiya is ready to take on this challenge, but emphasized that his progress will continue even after arriving in France. "It is also a very, very competitive environment that he will face. Obviously, I think he is ready for this challenge," he noted. "What will speak for him is the level of readiness that he will continue to develop there."

Sibiya will also have to adapt to the demands of French football, which Cardoso described as particularly transitional and physically demanding. "French football is very special, it is very compact football. He will have to cope with many fast players; it is a transition game, a lot of space usage," he explained. "At times it can be compared to our game, but Lille is a good football school, a team that likes to play good football."

Although Sundowns might lose a promising player before he establishes himself in the club's squad, Cardoso believes that a broader picture should be considered. The coach sees Sibiya's development as something that can ultimately benefit both Sundowns and the South African national team Bafana Bafana. "As much as we believe he can become an important player for the future of Sundowns, we also know that he will be an important player for the future of South Africa—it is an opportunity that is hard to refuse."

Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Sphele Mkhulise warned his teammates that they should expect a tough match against the fast-starting Kaizer Chiefs, which will take place at FNB Stadium on Saturday at 15:00.

The 'Brazilians' are entering the fixture with momentum after defeating TS Galaxy early in the Betway Premiership 2026/27 season. However, 'Amakhosi' demonstrated an even stronger start, winning their first two league matches and occupying the top spot in the standings.

This sets up an early clash between two teams expected to compete for domestic titles this season. Mkhulise believes that Sundowns must show their best level against the Chiefs, who have quickly found their rhythm under Fernando Da Cruz's guidance.

Mkhulise stated that they are ready to do everything possible as the game is a significant event, and fans should expect full commitment from the players on the field. The midfielder acknowledged Amakhosi's impressive start but emphasized that Sundowns are focused on their own game, not on the opponent's ranking position.

He noted that the match will be very difficult because the Chiefs are currently performing well in the league. 'They won their last two league matches, and I think they are in first place. So it will be a very difficult game,' he added.

Despite the meeting taking place early in the campaign, much is at stake. Chiefs aim to maintain their flawless record and solidify their top position, while Sundowns hope to build on their first-game success. For Mkhulise and his teammates, the task is to match the intensity of the Chiefs while imposing their own style in the confrontation. Since both teams are considered major contenders for the Betway Premiership title, the Saturday encounter could provide an early indication of how both sides are preparing for the upcoming season.

The head coach of Mamelodi Sundowns, Miguel Cardoso, announced that Monnapule Saleng trains separately from the starting team after the player repeatedly violated club rules and values.

Saleng was absent again during the MTN8 cup match, where Sundowns defeated Polokwane City 3-2 after extra time. This result allowed the defending champions to advance to the semi-finals.

The former winger of Orlando Pirates has not played for Masandawana this season. When asked about this after Sundowns' first home match of the campaign, Cardoso provided a detailed explanation.

According to the Portuguese coach, Saleng's situation is related to a series of disciplinary problems that led to the player being out of the first team for some time. Cardoso stated after the match: 'Regarding Saleng, the situation is unfortunately very different. Saleng has consistently violated the rules and values of the dressing room and the club, and at the moment—well, not at the moment, but for some time now he has not been training with the team.'

Cardoso also mentioned that Saleng missed an important match in Sundowns' successful CAF Champions League campaign, despite being included in the squad for the second final match. The coach added: 'Saleng was on the list for the second Champions League [final] match and he did not appear.'

Furthermore, the winger, who was expected to be in the club's pre-season training, did not travel with the team. Cardoso explained: 'Saleng was on the list for the [pre-season] camp, but he did not show up, or said he would not go.'

The coach suggested that Sundowns tried to support the player, but ultimately had to prioritize squad stability. He noted: 'Therefore, it is impossible for us to maintain stability with a player whom you care so much about, even after he has systematically failed, but is not ready to follow the path required by the team. Therefore, the club decided to separate him from the team; he is not with us now.'

Saleng joined Sundowns from Pirates in January after a long absence from Buccaneers, but his stay in Chlokope has not yet brought consistent success to the squad. His recent absence raises new questions about his future at the current Betway Premier League champions, especially given Cardoso's statement that the player is currently not part of the first team plans. While Sundowns' focus is now on the MTN8 semi-finals and attempts to win another trophy on multiple fronts, Saleng's future remains uncertain following the coach's latest remarks.