Mamelodi Sundowns defender Mothobi Mvala has expressed his appreciation for the way head coach Miguel Cardoso handled his return to the first team following a long-term injury that saw him sidelined for several months and lose his place in both the club and national team setups.
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The 30-year-old, who had been a regular fixture for club and country before the setback, explained that Cardoso took a deliberate approach with his recovery, ensuring he was mentally and tactically reintegrated before returning to the pitch.
“I’ve been part of the team. It’s just that I didn’t make the matchday squad, but I’ve been with the team,” Mvala told members of the media at the Venue in Melrose Arch.
“The coach wanted me to be in camps so I could get used to how he does things because, remember, when he came, I was injured. He didn’t want to just put me on the field like that. He wanted me to be familiar with how things are done in camp.”
Mvala admitted that coming back into the group after the arrival of a new coach made him feel like a new player in a team he had previously been settled in.
“When I got there, I felt like I’m new in the team because it was a new setup, but as time went by, I started to get used to it. I will say that the coach managed me very well and he put me back on the field at the right time. When he put me in, I was ready.”
The former Highlands Park player is competing for game time in a squad stacked with quality and depth, and he acknowledged that displacing in-form players like Mosa Lebusa and Grant Kekana is no easy task.
“It’s not easy to get yourself into the starting lineup because the guys who are playing are doing very well. Whether it’s Mosa or Grant, the team keeps winning. So, when you’re coming back from injury, you must wait for your chance and keep on working hard.”
He also pointed out that Sundowns make a concerted effort to keep non-playing squad members sharp by arranging training matches and friendlies behind the scenes.
“The nice thing is that the team organises friendlies for us to keep fit. At Sundowns, you don’t have much time to convince the coach that you are ready because the games are coming fast. There’s a lot of recovery and tactical work, but not much time for full 11 vs 11 matches.”
Mvala explained that opportunities to impress in training are limited, especially with the pace of the schedule. Players returning from injury often rely on small-sided games the day before matchday to catch the coach’s attention.
“The only time maybe the coach can see that you are ready is in the small-sided game we do on matchday. It’s difficult when you only have one day to show him that you are ready. But you need to be strong, tell yourself, ‘I’ll wait for my chance,’ and then support the ones who are playing.”
The Bafana Bafana international ended by reinforcing the importance of the right attitude when fighting to get back into a winning team.
“Make sure that when the opportunity comes for you to play, you are ready. Because once you start complaining or saying negative things, then you are done.”
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