Match Preview | Mamelodi Sundowns vs. Cardiff City
Cardiff City face Mamelodi Sundowns in our fifth game of pre-season on Tuesday, July 23rd.
The fixture will take place at Sportzentrum, Wörgl, with kick-off at 4pm local time (3pm in Cardiff).
Free entry will be available to all spectators wishing to attend this match.
Supporters in the UK can watch live coverage of our three friendly matches in Austria on Cardiff City TV, with Match Passes on sale now. Click here for more information.
OPPOSITION FOCUS | IN THE DUGOUT
Following a successful 2023/24 campaign, previous boss Rhulani Mokwena was announced as the new manager of Wydad AC, who play in the Botola Pro, the top-flight of Moroccan football.
In his absence, the side have been managed in pre-season by Manqoba Mngqithi, who holds the role of senior coach at the club.
Mngqithi was the assistant manager of Sundowns between 2013 and 2020, before managing the side between 2020 and 2022.
The 53-year-old led the club to the double in 2021, winning the league title as well as the domestic cup.
OPPOSITION FOCUS | LAST SEASON
The 2023/24 campaign saw a great deal of success for Mamelodi Sundowns, as the Bafana ba Style were crowned South African champions by a margin of 23 points.
Winning 22 of their 30 league matches, the side fell to just one defeat in the South African Premier Division all season.
There was also success in the first edition of Africa’s newest club football tournament, the African Football League.
Sundowns recorded wins over Petro de Luanda, Al Ahly and Wydad AC to be crowned winners of the competition.
OPPOSITION FOCUS | SUMMER BUSINESS
The South African champions have further bolstered their squad so far this summer, firstly with the signing of Brazilian Arthur Sales.
The 22-year-old forward joined from Lommel, having scored 17 league goals in 38 appearances for the club.
Mamelodi Sundowns broke their club record transfer fee to bring the striker to the club.
Also joining the club this summer is winger Kobamelo Kodisang (pictured), who arrived from Portuguese side Moreirense.
The right-sided player has spent much of his career in Portugal, but has represented South Africa internationally on one occasion, facing Namibia on debut.
OPPOSITION FOCUS | KEY PLAYER
Sundowns’ talisman is striker Peter Shalulile, who is the club’s all-time leading goalscorer.
Joining from Highlands Park in 2020, Shalulile has excelled ever since, scoring 59 league goals in just 97 appearances for the club.
The attacker has also impressed at international level, netting 16 goals for Namibia in 53 caps.
In the final of the African Football League against Wydad AC, he scored a crucial goal in the second leg, as the side came back from a 2-1 deficit on aggregate to win the tie 3-2.