Miguel Cardoso's plan to streamline the Mamelodi Sundowns setup

However, with at least eight players already offloaded and further departures possible, the club appears to be moving in a new direction.

Miguel Cardoso, who took charge of the team as head coach last season, explained that the decision to trim the squad is not solely his own but a collective agreement within the club's hierarchy.

The Portuguese tactician pointed to lessons learned from last season, including the need to keep players motivated and ensure fair opportunities for game time.

"It's not only my opinion to reduce the squad - it's something we agreed on inside the club," Cardoso said.

"How we do it and the final numbers will depend on several aspects. But we understand that South African squads are bigger than what I've seen in Europe, especially in Portugal."

He added that, unlike European leagues, where squads typically consist of 22 outfield players and three or four goalkeepers, the congested South African fixture schedule demands more depth. That said, Cardoso believes balance is essential.

"We need a squad that can compete at a high level, especially when injuries, suspensions or dips in form occur," he continued.

"But at the same time, we cannot have players who are permanently sidelined and lose motivation. That kind of atmosphere is not what we want in our club."

The coach concluded by saying that while the squad will be smaller than last season's, it won't be trimmed to European standards.

"We want every player to feel they have a genuine chance to play regularly. That's the mindset driving this decision."