Miguel Cardoso: Mamelodi Sundowns Coach Gives Surprising Update on Khuliso Mudau’s Injury
- Khuliso Mudau was stretchered off in the first half of Sundowns' 2-0 win over Marumo Gallants on Wednesday
- Head coach Miguel Cardoso confirmed after the match that Mudau sustained a very severe injury
- Cardoso revealed the injury occurred without contact from an opponent, raising concerns about the recovery timeline
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Mamelodi Sundowns right-back Khuliso Mudau has ruptured his Achilles tendon, head coach Miguel Cardoso confirmed after his side's 2-0 victory over Marumo Gallants on Wednesday.
Mudau was carried off on a stretcher in the 38th minute of the match, replaced by Zuko Mdunyelwa, after appearing to suffer a serious injury during open play.
**Cardoso Delivers Grim Update on Mudau**
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Speaking to SuperSport TV after the final whistle, Cardoso described the injury as a significant blow to both the club and the national team.
"I think Mudau has a very severe injury," the coach said. "It's obviously for a player of his calibre, his quality, it's a big loss for South Africa and for us especially."
When pressed on whether Mudau had sustained an Achilles injury, Cardoso confirmed the diagnosis during the post-match press conference, adding that the injury was non-contact in nature.
"We believe so; it's a very, very severe injury," he said. "He got injured outside the pitch in that action. I thought it was the one in the middle, but no. We reviewed the action. This one was not from a tackle."
Cardoso also noted that midfielder Teboho Mokoena remains unavailable following an injury sustained in an earlier fixture, compounding the squad's fitness concerns.
**Coach Urges Squad to Rise to the Challenge**
Despite the sombre news, Cardoso called on his remaining players to step up as the team faces demanding fixtures ahead.
"This one was occasional. It happens, there are accidents in F1, there are injuries in football," he said. "But it's a big loss. I hope the others race for the challenge ahead, of course."
Achilles ruptures typically require several months of rehabilitation, meaning Mudau faces a prolonged spell on the sidelines. The 27-year-old defender has been a consistent presence in Sundowns' backline and a key figure in the Bafana Bafana setup in recent seasons.
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Source: Briefly News
