Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos. Photo: AFP
Image: AFP
Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has warned that it's not only his team that are vulnerable to injuries due to their heavy playing schedule, but also Bafana Bafana ahead of the upcoming FIFA World Cup.
The relationship between Sundowns, who boast the largest continent of players in the national squad, and Bafana coach Hugo Broos has been fractious at best, with the Belgian particularly taking umbrage against former Downs coach Rhulani Mokwena.
But it seems the frosty relationship, primarily due to Sundowns’ failure to release ‘injured’ players for national team call-ups and in reverse players picking up injuries on international duty, has simmered in recent times since Cardoso’s appointment at Chloorkop.
Cardoso even recently publicly backed Broos and called on the nation to pledge their support behind Bafana at the Fifa World Cup.
The Portuguese tactician has now warned that Sundowns’ back-to-back fixtures, as they compete both in the CAF Champions League final and complete their Betway Premiership run-in, will have a toll on Bafana.
"I spoke about it several months ago, regarding the schedule that we were putting on," Cardoso said.
"A team that has to play Champions League up to the end, in a country where you have competitions one after the other, just to please everybody, obviously, makes us arrive in a moment of the season that we should be in the top conditions to perform, eventually with some losses.
"There's more injuries to happen, because it's normal when the teams have to play three days or seven matches in 21 days. What we expect before the end of the season. Just injuries. Injuries.
"Obviously, it's not good. Let's hope Bafana-Bafana will not lose players throughout and have big losses for the World Cup. Because that's what I expect in the next weeks."
Sundowns are currently nursing injuries to Brayan Leon, Nuno Santos and Arthur Sales with the South American trio expected to be unavailable for Wednesday night’s Premiership clash against Polokwane City.