“Sink Or Swim” — Motsepe Breaks Silence On Why He Refused To Sack Cardoso

Mamelodi Sundowns chairman Tlhope Motsepe has revealed that the club resisted pulling the trigger on manager Miguel Cardoso during their recent slump because of an unshakeable belief that the project would ultimately click.

Motsepe addressed journalists following Sundowns’ triumphant return on Monday night after their historic CAF Champions League final victory over FAR Rabat, which ended an agonizing ten-year drought in Africa’s premier club competition.

Why Didn’t Tlhope Motsepe Sack Miguel Cardoso?

The road to continental glory was anything but smooth. Sundowns endured a thoroughly uncomfortable group stage campaign that left local pundits questioning Cardoso’s longevity.

The Brazilians stumbled through a tense 2-2 home draw against a ten-man Al Hilal side before suffering a bleak away defeat in Sudan, heavily clouds over Cardoso’s immediate future.

A subsequent 1-1 draw against Saint-Éloi Lupopo in the Democratic Republic of Congo amplified the pressure, leaving Sundowns in a high-stakes, must-win final group fixture to stave off a catastrophic group-stage exit.

However, Chloorkop found its heroes when it mattered most. Sundowns dispatched Rulani Mokwena’s MC Alger 2-0 in Tshwane, courtesy of a brilliant Brayan Leon brace, booking their ticket to the knockout phase.

Heading into that match, defeat would almost certainly have placed Cardoso under severe pressure, especially as Sundowns were also struggling to convince in the Betway Premiership, where they eventually lost the league title to Orlando Pirates.

“I’m not sure if ‘vindication’ is the exact feeling I have right now,” Motsepe admitted.

“I feel very proud of the coach, and I feel very proud of the group. The belief and conviction I had came because of the group.

“I saw the way the group responded to the coach during tough times.

“The way the group pulled together during those difficult moments gave me a lot of confidence.”

The Turning Point Behind the Scenes

Motsepe highlighted that the structural foundation laid out during Cardoso’s initial interview phase played a massive part in keeping the board’s patience intact.

“At the same time, the things we discussed during his interview before he came to the football club — the ambition and vision he had, and how he wanted to instil his tactics and philosophy at the club — were very interesting and exciting for me because he spoke a lot about emotions and individuals,” he said.

“Before the coach arrived, we were already a very talented squad, absolutely.

“I think there was just something that needed to click within the group, and credit must go to the players and the technical team for finding a way to make that happen..”

The chairman also praised the unity shown between the coaching staff and the front office, heavily commending Sporting Director Flemming Berg for anchoring the club’s long-term strategy.

“But I also think it was a difficult period, and the circumstances demanded that the group either sink or swim,” he said.

“The way they reacted gave me a lot of confidence during tough times to continue believing in the project, the coach and the technical director as well.

“Mr Flemming Berg was also right there with us, supporting the coach and the vision we were pursuing.

“We are all very proud of where we are right now.”

Global Horizons and Historic Payouts

Conquering Africa has proven to be an incredibly lucrative venture for the Pretoria-based giants. By hoisting the CAF Champions League trophy, Sundowns pocketed a cool $6 million (R110 million) in prize money.

Beyond the immediate financial windfall, the triumph guarantees Sundowns a coveted spot in the upcoming FIFA Intercontinental Cup later this year, alongside elite qualification for the expanded, multi-club FIFA Club World Cup scheduled for 2029.