Sundowns coach Cardoso explains midfielder’s exit

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has addressed the departure of midfielder Matias Esquivel, stating the player was signed under former coach Rulani Mokwena and was not part of his future plans.

Esquivel, a 26-year-old attacking midfielder from Argentina, recently joined Greek club FC Kifisa on a season-long loan. He arrived at Sundowns in January 2024 from Club Atlético Lanús but struggled for playing time, making only 16 appearances with two goals and one assist.

At an MTN8 press conference at the PSL headquarters in Parktown on Thursday, Cardoso clarified that he had no involvement in bringing Esquivel to the club. “Matias is a player that came to Sundowns not with me but with Mr. Rulani Mokwena,” Cardoso explained.

Cardoso also noted that Esquivel had limited opportunities to prove himself. “He didn’t have a chance to play, and he went back to Argentina [in the first round of last season],” he said. “I have nothing to do with him coming to the club, so don’t put pressure on me regarding Esquivel.”

While praising Esquivel’s talent, Cardoso suggested that the player lacked the perseverance to earn a spot on the team. “Matias is a very good player, and you’ll see that he will succeed where he’s going,” Cardoso said.

“It’s not only me who didn’t give him the time to play, even coach Rulani. But also, Matias didn’t persevere to show that he wants to play, that is done by training hard because a player needs to show you at training that he’s better than the ones who are playing in his position.”

The club is currently reshaping its roster to compete for domestic and continental titles. Sundowns has been a dominant force in the PSL, winning the Betway Premiership title eight seasons in a row, but is still chasing the CAF Champions League, which they last won in 2016.

This season, the club has parted ways with several players, including Sipho Mbule, Rivaldo Coetzee, and Lebohang Maboe, as part of their ongoing squad overhaul.