Miguel Cardoso Insists Sundowns Dressing Room Remains United Amid Lucas Ribeiro Saga

• Mamelodi Sundowns talisman Lucas Ribeiro has taken the club to FIFA in a move that has raised questions about his future
• Coach Miguel Cardoso has insisted the Sundowns dressing room remains united and focused despite ongoing speculation
• Briefly News had an exclusive interview with football analyst Mandla Biyela, who shared his thoughts on the potential implications of the situation

As the contract standoff between Mamelodi Sundowns and star forward Lucas Ribeiro escalates, coach Miguel Cardoso has insisted the Brazilians’ dressing room remains unshaken.

Ribeiro, last season’s Footballer of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year, has taken his case to FIFA’s Football Tribunal in an attempt to terminate his contract with the Tshwane giants.

The player has reportedly stopped training with Sundowns and is believed to be pushing for a lucrative switch to Qatar SC, although no agreement has been reached between the two clubs.

Speaking ahead of Sundowns’ MTN8 semi-final second leg against Orlando Pirates at Lucas Moripe Stadium, Cardoso maintained that the squad’s focus is intact.

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“Sundowns are not making any noise about this matter,” he told journalists.

“We are keeping everything within the locker room. The values inside the club are too strong for these kinds of events to destabilise us. Our focus is on preparing for the next match and concentration levels remain high.”

The Portuguese coach, who won the Betway Premiership in his debut season at Chloorkop, emphasised the strength of his players’ mentality.

“If one falls, two should rise. That is how character is built. Whatever happens is dealt with internally and at the right time it will be spoken about. For now, the locker room is strong and united,” Cardoso said.

Khluliso Mudau also faces uncertainty

Adding to the uncertainty at Chloorkop is the situation surrounding Bafana Bafana defender Khuliso Mudau, who is yet to feature for Sundowns this season amid speculation over his future.

In an exclusive interview with Briefly News, football analyst Mandla Biyela suggested that the Ribeiro case could set a significant precedent in South African football.

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“Ribeiro’s situation is tricky because it involves FIFA’s tribunal, which means it is not just a club issue but one that touches on global football regulations,” Biyela explained.

“If the tribunal rules in Ribeiro’s favour, it could open the door for more players in the PSL to challenge contracts in a similar way, especially if they feel undervalued or have better offers abroad.”

Biyela also noted that while Cardoso may be trying to shield his players from distractions, the saga could still weigh heavily on the squad.

“Cardoso is right to stress unity, but let’s be honest, losing a player of Ribeiro’s calibre is not something you can brush aside easily,” he added.

“He was their talisman last season, so even if the dressing room remains strong, on the pitch there will be a huge gap if he leaves.”

For now, Sundowns continue their preparations for a crunch semi-final, but the shadow of the Ribeiro saga lingers heavily over Chloorkop.

Source: Briefly News