Cardoso playing mind games? Mokoena weighs in on Sundowns injury concerns

Former Orlando Pirates winger Lebohang Mokoena believes Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso could be playing mind games ahead of Saturday’s MTN8 final.

Masandawana will face the Buccaneers at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, with both sides looking to get their hands on the first major trophy of the season.

Cardoso revealed this week that Teboho Mokoena, Bathusi Aubaas and Aubrey Modiba could miss the highly anticipated clash due to injuries sustained while on international duty with Bafana Bafana.

However, the Sundowns coach indicated that late fitness tests would determine whether the trio would be available for selection.

Cardoso looking to win first domestic cup with Sundowns

Despite the injury concerns, Lebohang Mokoena believes Cardoso could be attempting to keep Pirates guessing about his starting line-up.

“It might be an advantage in the midfield if they don’t have Mokoena and Aubaas, but they also have an Allende and Mkhulise. I think the battle is going to be in that midfield,” he told Soccerbeat.

Mokoena suggested that coaches often use uncertainty surrounding player availability to gain a psychological advantage over their opponents before major matches.

He also pointed to reports that Monnapule Saleng had returned to training, although the Sundowns winger has yet to feature for the club this season.

“There’s always those mind games played by coaches before big games. I also heard Saleng is training, he might be available, but he’s never there.

“Psychologically, the game has those things where the coaches are throwing in those ducks, saying certain players might be available so as not to give away the line-up.”

Mokoena believes the uncertainty surrounding Sundowns’ team selection could be part of Cardoso’s strategy, with Pirates left waiting to discover which players will be available for the final.

He suggested that Teboho Mokoena and Modiba could be fit enough to feature against the Buccaneers, despite the concerns raised earlier in the week.

The final promises to be another intriguing encounter between the two South African giants, with Pirates looking to extend their dominance in the MTN8 while Sundowns aim to reclaim the trophy.