Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Manqoba Mngqithi is set to make a big decision on Teboho Mokoena, which could reveal the level of trust he has in the Bafana Bafana midfielder.
Mngqithi's relationship with Mokoena and Khuliso Mudau was questioned after he omitted the duo from a number of matches early in the season as Sundowns got knocked out of the MTN8 in the semi-finals.
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Following back-to-back losses to Stellenbosch FC in the MTN8 semi-finals, the 53-year-old rang the changes in their next encounter, the CAF Champions League preliminary second round two-legged tie against Mbabane Swallows.
After Downs won 8-0 on aggregate, Mngqithi coach kept the same side that won 4-0 in the first leg against Swallows in the opening league clash they won 2-0 against rivals SuperSport United.
That particular squad, which had Rivaldo Coetzee playing alongside Marcelo Allende in midfield and the likes of Thapelo Morena at right wing-back instead, seemed to be the head coach's first choice as Mokoena and Mudau made their first league starts only on matchday four after The Brazilians edged Royal AM 2-1.
Ahead of the team's encounter against Cape Town City on Wednesday evening, the composed tactician has a big decision to make as Mokoena is currently on three yellow cards, with a titanic Carling Knockout quarter-final clash against Kaizer Chiefs looming on Saturday.
The three yellow cards tightrope for 'Tebza' means he would automatically miss the cup game against Amakhosi, should he be cautioned.
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Should the ex-Golden Arrows coach play Mokoena against City, he could be seen as having a strong will that Sundowns are not reliant on the midfielder or that he could care less whether he misses the game against the Glamour Boys.
The other side of the coin is that if Mngqithi reserves the 27-year-old, especially for the cup game against Chiefs, the sentiment around a perceived fractured relationship with Mokoena could improve.