Mamelodi Sundowns FC are monitoring key player fitness following their preliminary round tie in the CAF Champions League. Head coach Miguel Cardoso provided updates on Ronwen Williams and Teboho Mokoena after a goalless draw against Angolan side Wiliete.
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Key Duo Face Fitness Race
Ronwen Williams missed the Sunday clash after suffering a contact injury during training. Ricardo Goss replaced the experienced goalkeeper for the continental fixture. Coach Cardoso confirmed the decision was precautionary to avoid risk.
Teboho Mokoena suffered a knock during the match and had to be subbed off. The midfielder aggravated a previous ligament issue linked to his international duty. The coaching staff awaits detailed feedback to assess the duration of his absence.
Coach Miguel Cardoso on Player Conditions
Speaking through the club media team, Cardoso highlighted the importance of senior figures within the squad setup:
“The maturity of Ronwen Williams, the maturity of Teboho Mokoena is important to sustain the team.”
Cardoso addressed Mokoena’s condition directly:
“Teboho, it’s a little bit of a touch on that ligament that hurt in the national team. In the moment, we don’t know the extent of the injury, but he could not continue the match, so let’s hope it’s not a big thing and we can recover for the next match.”
On Williams, Cardoso added:
“Ronwen should not be a big thing. He had a small contact in a training session with some pain, but it was important to keep him safe.”
Looking Ahead to the Second Leg
The goalless result leaves the tie balanced ahead of the second leg at Loftus Stadium on Friday. A score draw would result in elimination due to away goals, adding tactical pressure on the squad.
Maintaining squad depth is crucial during demanding continental campaigns. Key injuries test roster quality and tactical versatility early in tournament phases.
Source: soccerladuma.co.za