Mamelodi Sundowns manager Miguel Cardoso is reportedly planning to part ways with up to fifteen players.
The club currently has around forty players in their first team, which has made it challenging for the Portuguese coach to manage the squad and provide everyone with enough playing time.
One player rumored to be on his way out is Themba Zwane, whose contract expires in June. This has sparked interest from Kaizer Chiefs.
Chiefs Eyeing Zwane?
According to KickOff, “Kaizer Chiefs could be keeping an eye on the situation of a Mamelodi Sundowns star.” This comes as no surprise, as Chiefs have a history of signing out-of-contract players from Chloorkop. After Gaston Sirino’s contract ended in June 2024, Chiefs snapped him up, and they may look to do the same with Zwane. With only five months left on his contract, the 35-year-old midfielder, still valued by Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos, could be an attractive target for the Soweto giants.
If Zwane makes the move, he would join a list of former Sundowns players who switched to Chiefs on free transfers, including Josta Dladla, Katlego Mphela, Leonardo Castro, Khama Billiat, Ramahlwe Mphahlele, and more recently, Sirino.
Cardoso’s Plans for Squad Reduction
Cardoso is reportedly eager to trim the squad down to 25 or 30 players, if the club desires a larger roster. Sources close to the team say the coach feels the current squad of 40 players is too difficult to manage, even with the demanding fixture list. He believes a squad of 25 field players, along with three or four goalkeepers, would allow for smoother rotation.
The coach is said to think that this size would offer the team three strong units, rather than the current four-team setup with 40 players. It seems that the club’s Sporting Director and management are in agreement with this approach, so Sundowns are likely to focus on maintaining a well-balanced, manageable squad moving forward.
