Miguel Cardoso urges strikers to step up as Mamelodi Sundowns host Durban City.

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Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso will head into their clash against Durban City at Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace on Saturday night eager to get his strikers firing again following a sluggish start to the season.

Brayan León has only scored three goals and registered one assist in 13 appearances this season, while Iqraam Rayners has netted four times and provided two assists in 10 matches.

Given their standards, that’s been a below-par contribution from both men. Just last season, León scored 15 goals and registered two assists in 26 games, while Rayners scored 16 goals and registered two assists in 36 games.

The pair need to find their scoring boots and help win games convincingly, especially given the fact that Cardoso is under pressure to keep a consistent front on all battlelines following a shock exit in the CAF Champions League.

Having struggled to convert in recent games – including in a 1-1 draw with Wiliete on the continent and a tight 1-0 win over Marumo Gallants in the Carling Knockout Cup last 16 – Cardoso has backed the duo to find their rhythm, starting against City to help the team maintain their top position in the league.

Mothobi Mvala reflects on Bafana Ba Style's performance and their determination to keep pushing forward 🗣️ #Sundowns #CarlingKnockoutCup #NeverStopRising https://t.co/jatvsFXSM5

— Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) October 28, 2026

“I agree with you, it’s not a lie that our strikers are a little bit off the mark,” Cardoso said. “But I must remind you that in the last league match, when Iqraam played against Richards Bay, he scored twice.

“Iqraam didn’t score against Gallants, but he’s a player that consistently scores. León will for sure find the right mindset and stability to play without pressure. A player that plays with pressure doesn't have to score, but fight a lot.”

Meanwhile, Siyanda Ndlovu has gradually found his feet at the club after arriving from Golden Arrows. He showed an appetite for goals by scoring the lone winner against Gallants. However, Cardoso says there's still room for improvement for the silky attacker.

“Siyanda is a player that can create a lot of possibilities in the match, but there are obviously a lot of things that he needs to improve in his game – defensively he still struggles,” Cardoso said. “But we have to extract the best that he has and help him get better. Inside the pitch, when he misses here and there, the team still needs to cover for him. That’s the spirit.

“He wants to do more, so it’s just a matter of him getting the spirit. So, it’s just those sorts of behaviours. Unfortunately, we’ll only have time to train in one month when we return from Qatar. Most importantly, we'll have time to teach him things when we come back from Qatar. We’ll teach him individual tactics then.”