Sundowns vs Pirates: Cardoso confirms two more join Mokoena & Reisinho out of Bucs clash

Mamelodi Sundowns are set to be without four key players ahead of their Premier Soccer League outing against Orlando Pirates at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium.

Already, the defending champions are set to do without the services of the suspended duo, Teboho Mokoena and Miguel Reisinho, alongside the long-term absentee Themba Zwane. Mokoena received his fourth yellow card in domestic assignments in the Carling Knockout Round of 16, while Reisinho was sent off in that particular game.

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Ahead of the Saturday fixture, coach Miguel Cardoso has confirmed two more players have been ruled out of the game owing to injuries.

Defender Malibongwe Khoza suffered an ankle injury in the CAF Champions League outing away against Remo Stars, while Thapelo Morena suffered an injury while turning out for Bafana Bafana in the 2026 World Cup qualifier against Rwanda.

Cardoso sheds light on Morena's injury

“We know that when we’ll have the availability of all the Sundowns players, this team will be so strong, but it’s not so in the moment,” the former Esperance coach opened up to the media ahead of the game.

“As you know, we lost [Thapelo] Morena, for example. Morena is a very important player for us, not only to manage [Khuliso] Mudau but also to enforce because it even takes energy when he enters the pitch.

“He’s a very important attacking player besides being the full-back. He’s not available, he got injured on the national team and others,” he stated.

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“Regarding Mali as you saw he got injured in the last match away he didn’t break any bones but he had an issue with his ankle, and he’s recovering,” he continued.

“Of course, it took a little bit of energy from his process, but also, you know, in Mamelodi Sundowns competition for the positions in the pitch is so high that sometimes just a slight lack of or a little bit of missed opportunity in one match or a bad performance can get you out of your path.

“It’s not what happened with Mali. Mali is injured, so he will not, unfortunately, be able to perform or play, but we are expecting him to recover very quickly, and he will also not be available for the national team in the next international break,” Cardoso concluded.