Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has confirmed Khuliso Mudau has been ruled out for six months.
Sundowns take on Lamontville Golden Arrows in the first leg of their MTN8 semi-final this weekend, starting in Tshwane and will be looking to build on their impressive 2-0 win over Marumo Gallants on Wednesday.
It was their first clean sheet of the new season but face up to an unpredictable Arrows side who dumped Kaizer Chiefs out in the quarter-finals.
“Golden Arrows is a team with quality, we will try our best to achieve a positive result, without suffering goals, it’s the care we need to have, we’re not a team that waits for what the game gives,” he said.
“We will try to control the capacity Arrows have with counter attacks as we saw against Kaizer Chiefs, with a medium to low block they had no issues to aggress, we will go for a result that will allow us to have more comfort in the second match.
“I did not keep the clean sheet, it was the team, I just organise things, most goals we conceded was set-pieces, one was a clear offside, we conceded two goals from two shots.”
On looking to build on their defensive performances he admits the injury to Mudau is a major blow; “We need to limit Arrows chances to minimise their chances of scoring.
“Injuries? It’s hard to lose one of the best African players. I can confirm it’s a total rupture of Mudau’s achilees and it’s going to be a period of six months out.”