Cardoso Anticipates Impact from New Signing Tsiki at Sundowns

Mamelodi Sundowns Coach Miguel Cardoso Discusses New Signing Tsiki Ntsabeleng

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has expressed his expectations for the team's latest signing, Katlego “Tsiki” Ntsabeleng, who has joined the club on loan from FC Dallas.

Ntsabeleng has yet to appear in Sundowns’ matchday squad and is the second player acquired during the current transfer window, following Fawaaz Basadien.

“We expect Tsiki to be a versatile midfielder capable of playing as a number six, eight, ten, or even as a winger,” Cardoso stated.

Cardoso noted the importance of Ntsabeleng's integration into the team’s philosophy. “He needs to develop with our philosophy to establish a connection with his teammates,” he emphasized.

The coach also pointed out that the player had limited game time with his previous team, and Sundowns will focus on improving his conditioning. “He trained with us during the Club World Cup in the United States and continues to train with us now,” Cardoso acknowledged.

“It’s important to lift his conditioning levels so he can contribute effectively to the team,” he added.

Cardoso is optimistic about Ntsabeleng’s potential impact on the club. “We believe he will significantly contribute to the team, as he is a valuable investment for both the club and himself,” he said.

“He has been working hard since joining, and in a recent friendly game, he performed well for 45 minutes,” Cardoso remarked.

“Let’s hope he gets a chance when we lose players like Kutlwano Lethlaku and Siyabonga Mabena to the U20 national team, as his presence will be crucial.”

In other updates, Cardoso addressed the absence of Teboho Mokoena and Peter Shalulile from the squad against Magesi on Sunday, attributing their exclusion to fatigue rather than injury. “Both players were rested due to fatigue after playing numerous matches recently,” he explained.

“Managing player fatigue is vital as we prepare for midweek and weekend games,” he added.

Despite the changes, Cardoso reiterated his trust in the available players, stating, “Rotations show our confidence in the squad, and we started Aubaas because of this.”

Moving forward, Sundowns, who lead the league in the Betway Premiership, will take on Marumo Gallants at Dr. Molemela Stadium on Wednesday at 19:30.