Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso provides an update on the futures of star striker Peter Shalulile and right fullback Khuliso Mudau.
The duo has been heavily linked with moves away from the Chloorkop-based side since the conclusion of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
After the club’s decision to reject offers for their services from various clubs across the globe, Mudau and Shalulile decided to go awol and not report for pre-season trainings.
However, Shalulile has since returned to training and was named in the club’s matchday squad away to Chippa United in the opening fixture of the 2025-2026 Betway Premiership season.
During the pre-match interview with SABC Sport, Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso provided an update on the futures of the two players at the club.
“It seems like people are speaking too much regarding Mamelodi Sundowns players,” Cardoso tells SABC Sport.
“What is really important to people to understand is that, until any player gets really officially released from the club, they are Mamelodi Sundowns players.
“Peter [Shalulile] is with us heart and soul. That’s what everybody, especially Mamelodi Sundowns, needs to understand. So why not bring a player that is heart and soul with us?
“Peter is a player that is always ready to play, player ready to perform, and fitness wise, unbelievable. So we just believe in him like we believe in others that are on the call-up.”
He also touched on Fawaaz Basadien getting his first start after joining from Stellenbosch FC, as well as injury updates to Thapelo Morena and Zuko Mdunyelwa and also Mudau’s possible return.
“It could have been Basadien it could have been Zuko [Mdunyelwa]. [Thapelo] Morena is about to join the team again [and] I believe Mudau pretty soon he will be with us, let’s hope so,” Cardoso continued.
“The question is that Zuko had a small issue that doesn’t prevent him from being on the bench, but starting the match maybe we had to take him out, and immediately have to understand that we would lose one of the substitutions.
“We decided to prevent and not risk [him]. It always better to have everyone available than to risk and lose players during a match and that’s what we did.
“There is more matches to come, Tuesday there is a match and Saturday there is another one. Managing the team means believing in everyone and believing in everyone means you are managing the team.”