Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso says he is open to the prospect of Thapelo Maseko remaining at the club and reintegrating into the first team squad.
Maseko caught the eye during Bafana Bafana’s 2026 World Cup campaign, raising expectations that he would either reclaim a starting berth with the Brazilians, or secure a high-profile move abroad.
However, neither situation has materialised. The 22-year-old has been missing during Sundowns’ pre-season, neither joining their tour of Austria, nor returning to Cypriot side AEL Limassol, where he spent the latter half of last season on loan.
Following Sundowns’ 3-2 victory over Polokwane City in the MTN8 quarterfinals this past weekend, Cardoso addressed the club’s stance and his personal rapport with the attacker.
“Between coach Miguel Cardoso and Thapelo Maseko, there are no issues. Yesterday, I had a beautiful talk with Maseko,” Cardoso explained.
“I was asked inside the club when we discussed his situation; we obviously had to understand if he wanted to stay with us or not.
“I don’t want to work with players who don’t want to be part of our group. I asked him, and I said: ‘Look, my heart is open for you to be here; the team is open for you if you want to join us and stay open-hearted with us.’”
Cardoso conceded that the matter is now out of his hands: “Obviously, when the player says, ‘I want to go to other places,’ then it becomes a club issue, not a coach’s question.”
Sundowns will open their Betway Premiership campaign on Tuesday evening with a match away to TS Galaxy in Nelspruit.
