Cardoso alleges suspicious timing of Mokoena’s ban ahead of Pirates clash

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has raised eyebrows over the fourth yellow card suspension handed to influential midfielder Teboho Mokoena, suggesting the timing—just before the highly anticipated showdown with Orlando Pirates—is too much of a “coincidence.”

The Brazilians will be without their 28-year-old leader, Teboho Mokoena, for Saturday’s blockbuster Betway Premiership fixture against the Buccaneers. Mokoena picked up his season-ending fourth booking in the 121st minute during the recent Carling Knockout Cup loss to Marumo Gallants, immediately ruling him out of the sold-out derby.

Addressing the media on Thursday ahead of the match, Cardoso made it clear he found the timing questionable.

“It’s also very coincidental that in the last minute of a match he gets a yellow card and we play Pirates after that, I believe in coincidences,” a wry Cardoso stated.

While the coach expressed hope that the players who step in would be “on the height of him,” the inference that Mokoena’s absence was strategically timed was unmistakable.

Cardoso Shares Emotional Toll of Bafana Bafana Scandal

Cardoso also provided rare insight into the mental state of Mokoena, revealing the immense personal stress the midfielder endured following the Bafana Bafana points deduction. The deduction, a consequence of Mokoena being fielded while suspended against Lesotho, significantly impacted the player’s well-being.

“I think it’s clear for everybody that Teboho had a very difficult moment in his personal life due to the situation he had to deal with,” the coach explained. He noted that the player felt unfairly “associated with the situation that would have touched the country for history.”

The coach confirmed the weight has finally been lifted, especially after Bafana Bafana secured World Cup qualification. “It’s clear that Teboho is another man and we feel so happy because of that. We feel him happy, we feel him communicating, we feel him smiling.”

Cardoso remains confident that the “best Teboho Mokoena will come in the next matches again to help us because he is a leader also for us.”

The top-of-the-table clash kicks off at 15:30 on Saturday at Loftus Versfeld. Masandawana currently hold a three-point lead over Pirates, though the Buccaneers have two games in hand.

Would you like a tactical preview of how Sundowns might adjust their midfield without Mokoena for the Pirates match?