Mamelodi Sundowns News Today: Transfer offer for Khoza rejected, Zwane blow confirmed & more

Latest on Mamelodi Sundowns, including news that the Brazilians have rejected a European loan offer for defender Malibongwe Khoza and Miguel Cardoso poised for first proper pre-season at Chloorkop.

Sundowns reject Austrian approach for Khoza

Mamelodi Sundowns have reportedly declined an offer from Austrian Bundesliga side SV Ried for young defender Malibongwe Khoza.

According to iDiski Times, the Austrian club approached Sundowns with a loan proposal that included an option to buy and an additional transfer fee.

The deal would have offered the 22-year-old significant exposure at a higher level of football, including the possibility of competing against Red Bull Salzburg and featuring in European competition.

However, Sundowns were unmoved by the approach despite Khoza’s limited game time.

Cardoso set for first proper pre-season at Sundowns

Miguel Cardoso is set to enjoy his first proper pre-season as Mamelodi Sundowns head coach after all administrative paperwork relating to his contract extension was confirmed.

The Portuguese coach will return to Chloorkop for at least another year, with pre-season set to begin in the weeks ahead with a century milestone also in sight.

Cardoso’s debut season was defined, in part, by an extremely short build-up period, as Sundowns only returned from the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup on 21 July after competing until 25 June, leaving the squad just 14 days before their first match of the new season.

That was the shortest pre-season the club had ever had, and it placed immediate strain on a squad navigating multiple competitions from the outset, and they went on to lose the PSL and all domestic cups but finished the season by winning the CAF Champions League.

Zwane blow confirmed for Bafana Bafana

SAFA have confirmed that Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Themba Zwane remains suspended for Bafana Bafana’s decisive 2026 FIFA World Cup Group A clash against South Korea at the Estadio Monterrey in Guadalupe on Thursday.

Zwane was red-carded during South Africa’s opening group match against Mexico on 11 June, initially earning a one-match ban that FIFA’s disciplinary committee subsequently upgraded to three games.

SAFA indicated they planned to contest FIFA’s ruling, but no reprieve has materialised ahead of the must-win encounter.

The veteran Sundowns playmaker has already sat out one match of his suspension, missing the 1-1 draw against the Czech Republic last Thursday.