Mamelodi Sundowns lose Khuliso Mudau for six months before MTN8

Mamelodi Sundowns will be without Khuliso Mudau for six months after the player suffered a complete rupture of his Achilles tendon. Head coach Miguel Cardoso confirmed the lay-off before Sundowns’ MTN8 semi-final against Lamontville Golden Arrows.

The first leg is scheduled for this weekend in Tshwane, giving Sundowns an immediate test without a player Cardoso described as one of the best in Africa. The injury is a major setback as the club prepares for a two-match semi-final against an Arrows side that has already removed Kaizer Chiefs from the competition.

Sundowns enter the tie after a 2-0 victory over Marumo Gallants on Wednesday. That result delivered their first clean sheet of the new season and offered a positive response ahead of the cup fixture, although Cardoso said the team must continue to reduce the chances it gives opponents.

The coach expects Arrows to pose a threat on the counter-attack. He pointed to the Durban side’s approach against Chiefs, when they defended in a medium-to-low block and still created problems when moving forward. Sundowns will therefore seek a result that gives them an advantage before the return match.

Cardoso also stressed that the defensive improvement belonged to the whole team rather than to one individual. Sundowns had conceded most of their recent goals from set pieces, while another goal came when an opponent was clearly offside. In the match before the 2-0 win, they had allowed two goals from only two shots.

The absence of Mudau now adds to the defensive demands around the semi-final. Sundowns must protect the clean-sheet improvement shown against Gallants while dealing with Arrows’ ability to attack quickly. Cardoso’s confirmation means the club will have to manage the rest of the season without Mudau as he begins his six-month recovery period.