“No team wins every match,” Cardoso said
After Kaizer Chiefs held Mamelodi Sundowns to a 0-0 draw at the FNB Stadium in Soweto on Wednesday, club head coach Miguel Cardoso supported his team and how they’ve been playing lately.
When Cardoso was asked in the news conference after the game if the draw was “job-saving,” he refused to answer.
“Please move on to the next question. Ask the next question. “Sir, please don’t joke around with me!” he returned.
Unfortunately, Sundowns are currently in third place in the Betway Premiership standings, having only won two games and tied two others.
Cardoso said, “Everyone wants to win every game, but no team loses every game.”
The 53-year-old said that his team’s main problem was tiredness for the second week in a row. This is because they went straight into the FIFA Club World Cup after the year ended. Unfortunately, Masandawana didn’t have enough time to get ready for the 2025–26 season.
Additionally, the Brazilians have been missing star players Khuliso Mudau and Lucas Ribeiro, who is currently the Betway Premiership Player of the Season but wants to leave the club.
“Therefore, if you’re being honest with the Sundowns staff—the coaching staff, the technical department, and the sports director—you know that the team that played in the Club World Cup is not the same team that’s playing now. The players who are out had such a big effect on the team that we need to rebuild.”
A rebuilding process is currently underway with young players, but he said, “We’re happy to do it and we’ll get where we want to go because we know the direction we’re going.”
Once, Masandawana and Orlando Pirates tied 1-1, but Masandawana lost on penalties in the second leg of their MTN8 semi-final match. After Wednesday’s scoreless draw with Chiefs, the Portuguese international made it clear how good the teams Sundowns has played include.
“We tied twice with Orlando Magic and leaders Kaizer Chiefs,” Cardoso said.
“What do you think will happen? Simply come here and score five goals? Respect your opponent. Respect me, but not them. They don’t look as bad as you think they are. “These are some very big teams.”
Since the end of the FIFA Club World Cup on June 25, Sundowns have played seven games in August, with one more scheduled for Saturday against Stellenbosch. According to Cardoso, his team’s recent bad run was because of their schedule, but he was sure that his team would get better.
The plan we have is hard for a team, though. It is not simple. I’d like to see another team deal with the same routine we do and see what happens. However, we are strong. “We’re very capable.”
South Africa’s Sundowns will play Stellenbosch on Saturday at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town.
