Ex-Mamelodi Sundowns captain Hlompho Kekana criticises Miguel Cardoso's treatment of Lucas Suarez after costly mistake against Kaizer Chiefs - 'You’re killing his confidence, you’re showing that you don’t trust him'

Lucas Suarez made a costly mistake as Kaizer Chiefs beat Mamelodi Sundowns 2-1 to advance to the final of the Nedbank Cup on Sunday.

Amakhosi forward Wandile Duba who scored Chiefs' first goal admitted they planned around forcing Suarez to make the blunder as they viewed him as a weak link.

However, former Sundowns captain Hlompho Kekana has defended the Argentinian defender while criticising coach Miguel Cardoso for substituting the centre-back after his error.

“I believe that when you’re a footballer and a professional footballer, you will understand that it’s a game of mistakes. You have to make mistakes. So, that is why when you play against other teams, you are forcing them to make mistakes, and capitalising on their mistakes,” said Kekana as reported by FARPost from The Pitchside Podcast.

“The same would happen in our camp, where other teams would plan better, and such situations would happen [Suarez mistake]. For a player to grow and to test their character in a big team, those mistakes will happen. But it is how you bounce back from them. 

“For a coach and anybody who believes that when you bench a player, he will learn from the outside, you’re making the biggest mistake," added the former Masandawana skipper.

"This will dent the player’s confidence, and already, the player’s confidence has taken a knock. So allow the player to do things he normally does [on the field] to gain confidence. 

“So, I still believe that when you take a player out of the team because of a mistake, you’re killing his confidence. You’re showing that you don’t trust him.

"You must appreciate and accept that there will be mistakes. Otherwise, players will start playing with fear. Therefore, players will think, ‘I can’t make mistakes because the next mistake will get me out.'”

Suarez has made an increasing number of errors of late and that has made him a target of opposition players who seek to exploit his weaknesses at the back.

In a Premier Soccer League match against Orlando Pirates recently, Suarez was responsible for the Buccaneers' first goal and he did not finish the match after he was substituted by Cardoso.

That was followed by another costly outing in the big cup game against Amakhosi.

After exiting the Nedbank Cup, Sundowns are now left with the PSL title and the Caf Champions League to play before this season.

It is to be seen if Cardoso will play another centre-back such as Malibongwe Khoza instead of Suarez for the rest of the season.