Cardoso's Injury Update and Message to Broos

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso delivered a grim injury update regarding defender Keanu Cupido, suggesting that he may have suffered a season-ending injury during the match against Kaizer Chiefs. Cardoso took this opportunity to send a pointed message to Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos. Cupido was forced off during the match, and the news from Chloorkop has been discouraging. Cardoso expressed that the Sundowns camp is preparing for the worst outcomes regarding Cupido's injury.

Cardoso also criticized the national team setup, implying that injury misfortunes tend to affect players who are not part of Broos' established squad. "We have lost several players with injuries; I think coach Hugo Broos is very happy because it seems the luck is picking the ones who are not Bafana established players. But let's see how Morena will be," Cardoso remarked, indicating that some of Sundowns' top talents might be overlooked on the international stage, making Broos' choices more convenient given their absences.

The coach’s strong endorsement of Cupido resonated as he stated, "I think Keanu is doing very well; maybe he was not in the thoughts of the coach, but one day he will be an international for Bafana Bafana – I have no doubts. At the moment, he’s probably the best centre-back in the league." This statement carries significant weight coming from a coach who expects high standards at one of Africa's elite clubs.

Cardoso directly challenged Broos to reconsider his selections, suggesting that Cupido’s absence from national discussions is unjustified. Cupido has been consistently impressive, providing composure, intelligence, and physical presence in Sundowns' defense throughout the season. His seamless integration into Cardoso's system has been a quiet success.

With the title race intensifying and the CAF Champions League final approaching against ASFAR, the potential loss of a highly regarded player like Cupido poses a substantial setback for Sundowns' aspirations and Cupido's prospects of representing South Africa internationally. The full extent of Cupido’s injury remains unknown, but Cardoso’s tone indicated that further news might not be positive.