Mamelodi Sundowns coach Cardoso on defender's proposed move to French Ligue 1 side Lille

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sibiya-thato/4SJSKvid/"]Sibiya[/a] is due to join [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/lille/pfDZL71o/"]Lille[/a] on loan with a view to making the move permanent, and Cardoso believes it is the right step for a player he feels has the talent to succeed.[/p][p][b]"It is a fantastic opportunity,” [/b]Cardoso told reporters on Monday. [b]“I coached in France, so I know very well the club he is going to, the facilities they have and the process they use to develop young players.[/b][/p][p][b]"At the same time, it is a very competitive environment he is going to face, but I think he is ready for the challenge. What will speak for him is not the level of readiness he has now, but the level of readiness he will develop there.[/b][/p][p][b]"There are still steps he needs to take before we see him in the first team in the future.”[/b][/p][embed guid="0c60be2c-dacf-4d08-96fe-f634bb635346" url="https://x.com/Masandawana/status/2089359094318604422?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Cardoso had a spell as coach of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/nantes/veuetnGG/"]Nantes[/a] in 2018 and says French football is fast-paced and attacking.[/p][p][b]"French football is very special,” [/b]he said. [b]“You have to cope with players, especially up front, who are very athletic. It is a game with a lot of transitions and exploitation of space.[/b][/p][p][b]"Lille is a school of good football. As much as we know the player could have been a good player for the future of Sundowns, we also know he will be a good player for the future of South Africa."[/b][/p][embed guid="c4a661e2-cf1d-4280-86f6-8d0a9489b66c" url="https://x.com/Masandawana/status/2089018732462981301?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Sibiya, who won the 2025 Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations with South Africa, made his Sundowns debut in a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/mamelodi-sundowns-lxZ6Bzh6/orbit-college-xUvPtdff/?mid=AmsEef6m"]2-0[/a] win over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/orbit-college/xUvPtdff/"]Orbit College[/a] in January. He also featured in the Nedbank Cup and two CAF Champions League games.[/p][p]He was on the bench for the second leg of the Champions League final as Sundowns lifted the trophy in Morocco against AS FAR.[/p][p]With experienced [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/modiba-aubrey/tWExAYOC/"]Aubrey Modiba[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lunga-devine/xrxpXjsU/"]Divine Lunga[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/basadien-fawaaz/WSudLcIq/"]Fawaaz Basadien[/a] in the first team, the 20-year-old has found opportunities limited.[/p]