Mamelodi Sundowns News Today: Cardoso’s emotional struggles, Zwane Bafana call-up explained & more

Latest on Mamelodi Sundowns, including Miguel Cardoso’s admission about the personal toll of Jaden Adams’ passing, Pitso Mosimane defending Themba Zwane’s call-up and more.

Cardoso opens up on his emotional struggles 

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has made an emotional confession about the personal impact of Jaden Adams’ death, following his team’s 2-1 victory over Al Ahli in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup on Saturday.

Nuno Santos scored twice to secure the FIFA African-Asian Pacific Cup — the club’s first ever — in a result Masandawana dedicated to the late midfielder.

“I want to leave today [Saturday] a special word in the memory of Jaden Adams. I think it’s a fantastic moment to honour him, to dedicate this medal, obviously, to his soul,” Cardoso told journalists as per FARPost.

“He’s always with us, and he’s always with me. I have to confess to you that I struggled a lot with his death. We promised ourselves [as Sundowns] that the best thing we could do is fight together to honour him throughout our journey together. Today [Saturday] was an important step on that way.”

Mosimane defends Zwane Bafana inclusion

Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane has moved to justify his decision to name Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Themba Zwane in his latest international squad, despite the 37-year-old not having started a single club game this season.

Zwane has featured in just five of Sundowns’ 12 matches across all competitions in 2026/27, all as a substitute.

“Experience, leadership. Let him tell [Puso] what it is to play for Bafana,” he told the media as quoted by iDiski Times.

“What is expected to stay at a high level, and what must he do to find the boys. And patience also. And by the way, sometimes you need to score, he must be ready. Rele struggled to score.

“10, 15 minutes, he’s got that aura, combining things. But you know guys, he’s not in a very good physical condition to be playing ahead of [Oswin] Appollis, let’s be honest.

Cardoso on talks with Sundowns’ Intercontinental hero

Miguel Cardoso has shed light on the private conversations he held with Nuno Santos before the Portuguese midfielder delivered one of the performances of the season against Al Ahli, scoring two goals as they won 2-1.

Santos, 26, had made only one start prior to Saturday’s clash — a league appearance against TS Galaxy — with reports linking his flat form to difficulties adjusting to life in South Africa following the departure of compatriot Miguel Reisinho at the start of the campaign.

“What happened today is that they embraced each other and Nuno had his (difficult) moment and it was not an easy moment,” said Cardoso.

“It’s not important today to speak about it of course. What’s important is that he had a smile on his face today and because he found that smile, I felt comfortable to play with him.”