Veteran vs upstart: Sundowns coach Cardoso has Zwane, Adams poser for Cairo clash

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso is facing a serious selection poser for the decisive Champions League second semifinal clash against Al Ahly in Cairo, with growing calls to start Themba Zwane ahead of Jayden Adams on Friday. 

For Downs' coach it is a choice between veteran Zwane, who intriguingly made his comeback in place of Adams off the bench from long-term injury in the 0-0 opening leg at Loftus on Saturday, and the young upstart signing who has impressed so greatly in Zwane's absence. 

A draw or straight win in the second leg in Cairo would see the Brazilians make the final for the first time since they won the tournament in 2016, where they would meet either Orlando Pirates or Pyramids FC (also 0-0 from the first leg at FNB Stadium). 

Zwane, affectionately nicknamed “Mshishi”, played for the first time this season when he was introduced in the 70th minute to replace Adams in the first leg and looked his usual self with deft touches on the ball and the right passes. 

Because of that, there are growing calls for Cardoso to start with Zwane ahead of Adams in the second leg because of the 35-year-old Bafana Bafana fulcrum’s big-match temperament and huge experience, having produced the goods in such high-stakes matches many times in a glittering career.

Downs goalkeeper Denis Onyango said Zwane, making his return since becoming injured in Bafana's 1-1 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying draw against Congo-Brazzaville away in October, is going to be important for the club during the crucial, closing weeks of the season. 

“You saw the stadium was up [when he came on]. He is the captain of the team and it was good to have him back on the field after such a long time. He is influential in the team, youngsters in the team love him, the country and the team love him,” Onyango said. 

Sundowns are still battling on two fronts, the Champions League and Betway Premiership, where the seven-time successive champions have work to do closing the deal in a tight race with Pirates. Onyango believes Zwane is going to be crucial for them if they are going to go all the way in either or both.

“When he is on the pitch things happen because he knows how to look after the ball and find the right passes. I just hope he gets the match fitness he needs and can help the team towards the end of the season.” 

In Zwane's absence, Cardoso used Adams with much success and the coach now faces a difficult decision of who to start in Friday's huge matchup against the record 12-time Champions League winners. 

“Everybody understands Themba comes from a long period where he did not play. The medical and performance departments did a good job helping him recover,” Cardoso said of Zwane's performance on Saturday. 

“But he is not ready to play a full match, otherwise he will struggle on the pitch. We did not have any problems to play him [off the bench against Ahly] because we knew there was a moment where he could bring something according to how the game was. 

“When you play the game in [the opposition] half of the pitch, it’s easier for him, unlike where the game is going up and down because he was going to struggle. These kinds of situations will give him the opportunity to help us more. 

“I am happy he is back because he is a human being who struggled a lot while out for a long period. I followed the steps of his recovery and he invested a lot in that.” 

Cardoso also has Bafana Mothobi Mvala fit again as a centreback option in Cairo. “They [Mvala and Zwane] are players with experience and give stability and energy to the group and I believe they will help us until the end of the season.” 

Sundowns failed to score in the first leg but Onyango is confident they can finish the job in Cairo. 

“We did not concede and that has left it open because we know we can score there. We have won in Cairo before, our goal is to go to the final and we are looking forward to it.

“The game will be more open in Cairo than it was in Pretoria. There is a bit of disappointment because we are used to winning at home. Normally we score at home — in this match we didn’t have shots on target but it’s because Al Ahly were disciplined.”

The other player Cardoso may consider starting away is Thapelo Morena, who scored during Sundowns’ 1-0 win over Al Ahly in Cairo in 2022 — the right-back or winger often has good matches against the Red Devils.