Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has opened up about the profound
personal toll the FIFA eligibility saga took on midfielder Teboho Mokoena,
revealing the player was deeply affected by being linked to a potential
World Cup disqualification for South Africa.
Ahead of Saturday’s crucial Betway Premiership clash with Orlando Pirates,
Cardoso described how the cloud over Bafana Bafana’s qualification weighed
heavily on Mokoena, despite the player having no personal responsibility in
the matter.
“I think it is clear for everybody that Teboho had a very difficult moment
in his personal life,” Cardoso stated. “No one will like his name…
associated with a situation that could detach the country from history and
until his last day of his life be associated with something so negative.”
The coach highlighted a dramatic shift in the player’s well-being after
South Africa officially secured their World Cup place, even with a points
deduction. “After the qualification… it is clear that Teboho is another
man, and we feel so happy because of that. It was a human question on the
table. The boy was not in his best place, but now we see him smiling.”
In a significant blow for Sundowns, Cardoso confirmed that this revitalized
version of Mokoena will be unavailable for the Pirates match due to
suspension. He pointedly questioned the timing of the yellow card that
triggered the ban, which was received in the dying moments of their previous
game against Marumo Gallants.
“It is very coincidental that in the last minute of a match, he gets a
yellow card when we are going to play Pirates,” Cardoso remarked, stopping
short of making a direct accusation but clearly expressing his suspicion.
With their influential midfielder sidelined, the pressure is on Sundowns to
overcome a key absence in a match that could have a direct influence on the
PSL title race.
