Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has given an update on the progress of captain Themba Zwane, Mothobi Mvala and recent signing Lebo Mothiba ahead of their CAF Champions League tie against Tunisian giants Esperance.
Sundowns have had to go go about their business without the presence of their two Bafana Bafana stars in Zwane and Mvala, but they've still excelled in their absence, such is the quality they have in the squad. Having them back, however, would no doubt be a big boost, especially at this stage of the campaign where they are juggling a tight schedule of competing in three different competitions.
READ: Possible Return To Chippa For Sundowns Defender?
On Monday morning, in a press conference held at Chloorkop, Cardoso gave an update on the fitness of Zwane and Mvala, ruling them out of the two legs of this clash. They will, however, start playing in friendly matches and that will get them closer to making it into the matchday squad in the near future.
"Themba is almost there, but still not in condition to participate in this match and in the second one. Also Mothobi and Mothiba. But indeed we feel that they are quite close. To be clear, they are in the moment where they train 100 percent with the group. Themba and Mothobi are training more with the group and now we are going to prepare to give them stimulus of games because now they should participate in an official game before they have a chance to make it in a friendly game," Cardoso told media ahead of the clash which will be played at Loftus Stadium on Tuesday afternoon.
READ: Jali's Future: Career Changing Decision
Tomorrow (Tuesday) they will make a situation with a football where they will play with some players from Diski team. Then, when we fly to Tunisia, they will be a friendly where they will play a team that we will invite to come play. The process of bringing players back is not only bringing them back on the training sessions, but also bringing them back on the level which they can perform because we cannot expose a player like Themba or a player like Mothobi to a game where they are not capable to perform to the level they are."
Zwane, Mvala and Mothiba were all training with the team at Chloorkop and are expected to play some role in the team before the end of the campaign.
