Cardoso: I Was Not Here When Pirates Won Cups
Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has stated he has no influence over Orlando Pirates winning the past three MTN8 trophies since he wasn’t in the country.
Pirates and Sundowns will meet in the much-anticipated MTN8 semi-final first leg match at Orlando Stadium on Saturday (15:00).
Cardoso joined Sundowns in December last season, which was after Pirates had secured their third consecutive MTN8 title.
However, in the 2023/24 season, under coach Rulani Mokwena, Pirates defeated Sundowns on penalties in the final in Durban. Pirates also beat Sundowns in the Nedbank Cup during the same season at Mbombela Stadium.
The first leg of the MTN8 semifinal is expected to be a highly competitive match, with a sold-out crowd.
Despite Pirates losing their first two league matches, Cardoso dismissed their “underdog” status. He emphasized that the past holds no bearing on the upcoming game.
“It is not something I relate with, regarding the past. I never look at the past, I just want to write the future,” said Cardoso.
“And focus on the present in order to write the future. I was not even here in South Africa when cups were being played between the teams; it is the first time we are going to play each other in a cup match (under my watch).
“As I have stated before, these kinds of matches – the first whistle put us in another kind of dimension and the team that maybe better or worse or the same level match. It has nothing to do with what will happen in these matches, it is a story that is completely different.
“There is a lot of emotion behind this game, lots of ambience behind, lots of players who will show certain levels before that were not there before.
Cardoso also spoke about how these types of matches have a different dimension, with high emotions and a lot of passion. “What is important is the team that wants to get results in these matches. Really show a different standard to be the best they can be,” he said.
“It is what I hope we can in these two matches – very competitive matches, with the intentionality to be very competitive so we can win more duels, more balls, we can find the right spaces to play, we can be aggressive to the opponent, we can cope with the aggression that we are going to suffer.
“Because, as I said, the game will have different moments and the level of awareness to prevent suffering goals and the level of awareness that allows to be in the right moment to make ours.
“For sure, it will be two very beautiful games, lots of emotions to deal with. I hope people around, the players, the coaches, management, and everyone, the referees – all live the right emotions to deal with these kinds of games, so that we give South African football a spectacle.”
The second leg will take place at Lucas Moripe Stadium the following weekend.
