Playmaker Themba Zwane can still make it back from injury for the Africa Cup of Nations finals, reckons Miguel Cardoso, although he was quick to note that decision rests not with him but Hugo Broos.
The 36-year-old Zwane has been out of action since early in the season, having made an all-too-brief comeback from his long-term knee injury at the end of last season, when he competed in the Club World Cup in the United States.
Zwane spent most of the 2024-25 campaign out of action and has been sidelined since the MTN8 semifinal against Orlando Pirates in mid-August with a thigh issue.
“I think, yes he can. But let's have some patience with him,” Cardoso said.
“We’ve seen improvements, much more than we would expect, and for someone of his age, he's recovering very well. So we have an expectation regarding him. Of course, we're going to be cautious, because not thinking about the national team, but thinking about us, and thinking about him, you have to be cautious.
“Last time we were cautious,” added Cardoso of Zwane's return from his ACL injury towards the end of last season, where the Sundowns coach took some flak for not playing him in the African Champions League final.
“Now we have to be extra cautious, let's say, because he deserves it and most of all, we need him. More than pretty quick, he'll be back in the team.”
Cardoso also said he expected Keanu Cupido, Grant Kekana, Thapelo Morena and Zuko Mdunyelwa back after the international break, but Mothobi Mvala has gone for surgery on a long-standing knee complaint.
Sundowns tried conservative treatment and avoided putting him under the knife over the last months, but he had a setback against Lamontville Golden Arrows on Wednesday.
“It was the decision that was taken between the player and the medical department last year to go through conservative process and procedures. Things work well, but unfortunately there was an incident (against Arrows) and this time, he will have to go to surgery.”