Miguel Cardoso rues Lucas Ribeiro exit and promises 'extra energy' ahead of transfer deadline day - 'His name had a lot of impact on Mamelodi Sundowns'

In the ongoing transfer window, the defending Premier Soccer League champions have brought in two players, Fawaaz Basadien from Stellenbosch, and Tsiki Ntsabeleng, who came, albeit on loan, from FC Dallas.

However, they have parted ways with Rivaldo Coetzee, Sipho Mbule, Lucas Suarez, who was on loan, Lebohang Maboe, Sifiso Ngobeni, Thabang Sibanyoni, Sanele Tshabalala, Kobamelo Kodisang, Rushine De Reuck, Thembinkosi Lorch, Matias Esquivel, Neo Maema, and Terrence Mashego.

The most painful exit, on Masandawana, was that of Lucas Ribeiro, their best player, arguably, in the last two seasons, to Cultural y Deportiva Leonesa.

In the absence of Ribeiro, Masandawana have lost the flair in the attacking department, struggling to score and create goals with ease as they used to.

Coach Cardoso concedes it will not be easy to find a suitable replacement for the South American.

Nevertheless, he has promised to try and get a new face before the transfer window closes on Monday, September 22.

“I expect so, it’s clear the team needs extra energy in the front, extra quality, we lost important resources from last year, it’s only one name, but his name has a lot of impact on the team, and it’s clear that we’re still trying to find the right connections, to develop collectively, the capacity to arrive there," the tactician opend up to the media.

“We have a lot of belief in our players, but some of them are very young and cannot cope with the responsibilities to carry a team like Mamelodi Sundowns that needs to win every match. Obviously, it’s important that we can get results.

"If we had scored a goal [against Marumo Gallants] and keep moving forward, it would give opportunities to the young players to develop, or to the new player," Cardoso continued.

"But we’re dependent now on the [options] we have and trying to be creative because we trust the players and believe we have all the conditions to continue to win.

"We need to know that the teams in the PSL have reinforced a lot and the competition is very hard," he concluded.

Sundowns have been linked with TS Galaxy defender Khulumani Ndamane and another Brazilian attacker, Matheusinho.