‘I am happy about the fact that he came back, but mostly because he is a human who has struggled for a long period (out of the game),’ Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso.
Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso is delighted to have Themba Zwane back and available for selection.
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Cardoso, however, has warned that the 35 year-old maestro is still not ready to play 90 minutes for the team.
‘Mshishi’ returns for Sundowns
Zwane came off the bench for the last 20 minutes of Saturday’s goalless draw with Al Ahly in the first leg of the Caf Champions League semifinal at Loftus Stadium. And ‘Mshishi’ showed enough in that time to suggest he has plenty to offer for the rest of the campaign, having recovered from a ruptured Achilles tendon.
“Themba has come from a long period where he didn’t play,” Cardoso told the post-match press conference.
“The medical department did a wonderful job to recover him. For sure he is not ready to play a full match. He will struggle on the pitch and it will not put him in the condition to perform (going forward).
“I had no problem today putting him in where he could bring something. When the game is in one half of the pitch (Sundowns had most of the possession) it is easier for him. This kind of exposition and development can help us more and more.
“I am happy about the fact that he came back, but mostly because he is a human who has struggled for a long period (out of the game).”
Zwane, who has also signed a new contract extension with Sundowns, will now hope to make an impact as the Brazilians travel to Cairo for the return leg on Friday.
Sundowns battled to break down Ahly at home, failing to have a single shot on target in the entire match. But keeping a clean sheet is a bonus for Cardoso’s side, if they can grab an away goal in Cairo.
With away goals counting double in the Caf Champions League, any score draw at Ahly will see Sundowns progress to the final.
Cardoso wants more fans
Cardoso, meanwhile, was not impressed by the lack of support for Sundowns inside Loftus on Saturday, though many fans were probably away for the Easter Weekend.
“It was sad to see this beautiful stadium so empty when it is the semifinal of the Champions League,” said Cardoso.
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“We should have people giving us energy. It is so tough to play these types of games when you are playing the best in Africa. Sometimes people ask what the difference is between North Africa and southern African teams. In Cairo you will have 90 000 fans given their energy whatever happens. We felt the energy from the fans (that were there) but it should have been a full stadium cheering.”
