Cardoso Drops Future Bombshell After Historic Sundowns African Glory

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has offered a measured and carefully framed response regarding his future at the club following their historic CAF Champions League triumph, choosing instead to focus on what lies ahead.

The Portuguese tactician guided Sundowns to a landmark CAF Champions League title on Sunday, ending a decade-long wait for African glory and securing the club’s second crown in the competition since their breakthrough success in 2016 under Pitso Mosimane.

The achievement marked a defining moment for Cardoso, who arrived in December 2024 following the departure of Manqoba Mngqithi.

Cardoso’s early months in charge were met with significant pressure, especially after Sundowns fell short in last season’s CAF Champions League final against Pyramids FC.

Domestically, the team also endured a difficult campaign, failing to win any of the four major Premier Soccer League trophies and facing growing criticism from supporters, particularly during a difficult spell in January.

Despite the setbacks, Cardoso persisted with his project, and his belief in the squad ultimately delivered African football’s biggest prize. However, when asked about his future, the Portuguese coach avoided making any definitive statements and instead emphasised focus and commitment.

“I think it’s not really my worry to think about the future,” Cardoso said.

“I believe that only commitment, only models of work at the highest level, groups of players with high capacity and a little bit of luck are the ones that can arrive here.”

Beyond the question of his future, Cardoso reflected on the emotional weight of the triumph and the journey that led to redemption after last season’s heartbreak.

“Indeed, it’s a sensation of pride. I told the coach [Alexander Santos] of AS FAR that the last two years have been a very difficult experience, to be on this day on the other side,” he added.

“But it was time, and last year I saw tears in my players. A few of them knew that we promised each other that we would have tears again, but they would be tears of joy and not sadness.

“I think you all have in your mind Khuliso Mudau crying, standing on the side of the bench in Cairo in that match we played against Pyramids last year. I embraced him and told him, ‘Man, we’re going to embrace again, surely next year.’

“Well, belief is a very important engine, and the energy also comes from that belief, which should obviously be combined with hard work, commitment and the ability to define moments that are sometimes decided by a very thin margin.

“In this moment, I think about the players. I think about the people who believe in me. I think about the questions I was asked by journalists when I arrived in South Africa at that first press conference, with people asking, ‘What are you doing here, coach? Where do you come from?’

“It’s also time to remember everybody who didn’t believe we could do it. Now the shirt has a second star. It’s not my star, it’s the star of Mamelodi Sundowns, the belief of the club and the commitment of the club to its vision. The job has been done over recent years.”

Following their Champions League success, Sundowns have also secured qualification for the 2026 FIFA Intercontinental Cup and the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup, underlining their growing stature on the global stage.

Meanwhile, Sundowns will hold a trophy parade in Pretoria on Tuesday.