Mamelodi Sundowns’ Woes Deepen as Dependable Star Suffers Injury

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Migule Cardoso will have to do without goalkeeper Ronwen Williams for a number of matches following an injury.

Williams was missing as Sundowns suffered a 2-1 loss to Sudanese giants Al-Hilal in the CAF Champions League in Kigali, Rwanda on Friday.

In his place, veteran Ugandan goalkeeper Denis Onyango played and he had a shaky performance with one mistake leading to a goal.

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Onyango earned Al-Hilal a penalty for the first goal when he fouled Adama Coulibaly as he attempted to close him down.

He also struggled with a groin issue and Al-Hilal targeted him for most of the game with their second goal being a low shot fired from outside the box.

While giving an update on Williams’ unavailability, Cardoso admitted he is not sure when the Bafana Bafana No.1 will be back but allayed fears that it is a long-term problem.

“That is a good question for our medical department. At the moment, I cannot tell you when he [Williams] will be available,” Cardoso said after the game.

“It’s not a long-term injury. But I just worry about the ones that are present. In our previous match, we played in our championship [Betway Premiership]. Denis had a fantastic save that allowed us to fight until the end and win that match.”

Williams’ unavailability played in the hands of Al-Hilal with their coach Laurentiu Reghecampf admitting that he changed his tactics when he learned that the goalkeeper would not play.

"I think the big value for us is that the first goalkeeper [Ronwen Williams] didn't play," said Reghecampf.

"When I saw the news in the paper this week, I only had one plan, which was to press, high press, to not let them come in the middle and play their game because they have very good quality players from the middle and I think for them it's a minute because of the build-up, they lose one important player."

Sundowns lost top spot in their group to Al-Hilal, who have eight points from four matches, with the Brazilians on five, but things could change when St Eloi Lupopo, who have four, play against Rulani Mokwena’s MC Alger later on Sunday.