Miguel Cardoso reveals crunch Zwane, Onyango talks

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has revealed the details of the crunch talks he had with club legends captain Themba Zwane and Denis Onyago before the start of the 2026/27 campaign.

The pair remain the club's longest-serving players in the current squad, having both joined the Brazilians in 2011 and went on to win two CAF Champions League titles among other trophies.

While their legendary statuses have been secured at Chloorkop, questions over their game time and role in the team have been persistent, particularly Zwane who is a fan favourite.

Cardoso, however, has dismissed any concerns about the veteran playmaker's potential lack of involvement in the current season, stating that he is still a valuable asset on the pitch and in the dressing room.

“Themba is a very important player for us, he's an important player by what he can still do on the pitch. Remember the first match we played in the MTN8, he entered and picked the ball at the back, made two or three combinations, progressed the ball together with other players and gave an assist for the goal,” said the Downs mentor.

"So, never Miguel as a coach having Themba in the squad will look at him as a player that cannot play, age is not simple like that but he's much more important than that - exactly by the example of his silent leadership, by the way he commits, by the way he does everything on a regular basis because he trains wonderfully everyday.

The Portuguese tactician revealed that Zwane, alongside Onyango, approached him about their playing time, urging him to make decisions for the benefit of the team without worrying about upsetting them as club legends.

“Of course, I had a talk with him but he's so big as a human being that it was not me calling him, it was him coming to me. And it was not only him, there was Denis as well. So, both of them came to me two weeks ago before the first match of the MTN8 and they said, ‘Coach we just want you to feel in peace regarding us, we just want you to feel absolutely 100% free to make your choices without worrying about our past’," Cardoso added.

"And I just told them, ‘Look guys, I’m absolutely just more certain about the level of human beings you are'. It's important to have that understanding from their side. Obviously, on the question of the goalkeeper it becomes even more difficult because we had to make a movement on Ricardo [Goss], which makes things a little bit more difficult for Dennis.

“And on that talk I immediately told them, ‘Themba just for you to understand, tomorrow you are on the team, Denis for you to understand, tomorrow you are not on the team'. That is the honest way I speak to my players, and I told them, ’Themba I will let you stay out when I feel it's time and I will put you in when I feel the team needs you'.”

Sundowns, meanwhile, swing back to action with a Betway Premiership clash against Marumo Gallants at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Wednesday night as they look return to winning ways after a draw with Kaizer Chiefs on Saturday.

Hlayisani Magoro

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Football journalist from South Africa covering African football news, exclusive stories and key events while sharing insights with passionate fans of the game.

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