Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has confirmed that striker Lebo Mothiba is currently not in a physical condition to contribute to the team. The 28-year-old, who recently returned to South Africa after a lengthy stint in France with Strasbourg, has been training with Sundowns since December. Despite his experience, Mothiba is still working on regaining his fitness after a long injury layoff.
Speaking to the media this week, Cardoso made it clear that Mothiba would not be able to help the team in a competitive capacity for the time being. “Let me make it clear, Lebo Mothiba will not help the team because he’s not in good condition,” Cardoso stated. “He’s coming off a lengthy period of injury. We should not expect him to step in and make an immediate impact right now; he’s still working on getting back to full fitness.”
Mothiba, who has not played competitively for over a year due to a significant surgery, is still in the recovery phase. Cardoso explained that the striker’s return to full form would be a medium- to long-term project. “He’s been out of action for a year after undergoing major surgery, and now he’s working on his fitness,” Cardoso continued. “There are still many uncertainties in his recovery process. He’s a fantastic player and a great person, but we, as a club, need to be patient with him. We cannot put pressure on him during this time.”
Despite his fitness challenges, Mothiba has been training with the team and is not yet an official Sundowns player. He has yet to sign a contract with the club, and his future remains uncertain as he continues his rehabilitation.
Currently, Sundowns sit at the top of the Betway Premiership, three points clear, and have also advanced to the quarterfinals of the CAF Champions League. It remains to be seen how Mothiba will fit into Sundowns’ highly competitive squad once he returns to full fitness, but the club is taking a cautious approach with the talented striker.
Mothiba, who has scored four goals in 17 appearances for Bafana Bafana, will need time to get back to the level required for the demands of top-flight football. His journey with Sundowns is still in its early stages, and it will be interesting to see how he integrates into the team’s tactical setup when he’s fully ready to play again.
