Why Cardoso chose Zwane in Sundowns Club World Cup opener

FOLLOWING Mamelodi Sundowns' 1-0 win over Ulsan HD in their Fifa Club World Cup opener this week, coach Miguel Cardoso went to great lengths to explain the inclusion of veteran playmaker Themba Zwane in the starting XI.

- HERMAN GIBBS

This was the first time that Zwane had started a match since the Portu-guese mentor Cardoso arrived at Sun-downs. For the greater part of Cardoso’s stewardship at the Brazilians, Zwane was recovering from an injury sus-tained in October 2024 while on Bafana Bafana duty.

The national team stalwart returned to action in April 2025, four months after Cardoso’s appointment in mid-December last year.

There was a massive outcry from Sundowns' supporters after Cardoso left the 35-year-old Zwane on the bench in both legs of the CAF Champions League final, which they lost 3-2 on aggregate to Pyramids three weeks ago.

There were suggestions that Zwane was the missing creative force in the Masandawana midfield that could have unlocked the North African side's defence.