Cardoso Reacts To PSL Coach Of The Season Nomination

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has reacted to being nominated for the PSL Coach of the Season award for the 2024/25 campaign after guiding the Tshwane giants to a record-extending eighth consecutive championship last term.

The Portuguese mentor, who succeeded Manqoba Mngithi in the hot seat in December 2024, is vying for the top gong alongside Stellenbosch FC coach Steve Barker and former Orlando Pirates boss Jose Riveiro, who has since left the club for Al Ahly.

In his first season in charge, Cardoso steered Masandawana to the successful defense of their league title, Nedbank Cup semi-final, and the CAF Champions League final, where Downs fell short to Pyramids FC of Egypt.

While he is in contention for the major individual award as the face of the technical team, the 53-year-old tactician dedicated the nomination to all staff members at Chloorkop and the players who bought into the style of play he implemented since taking over.

“The nomination is the recognition of all the coaching staff, the level of adaptation that we showed to the South African football and ultimately is also the consequence of the work of the players, their dedication to the proposals that we put in,” Cardoso said.

“I see it as a joint effort, as I see the monthly awards I received throughout the season. It’s a result of the joint work in the club, which leads to results.

“Obviously, the coach is the face of the result, but I really share all the individual awards with the big team and group of people in the club since the moment the players arrived in the club, and the scouting process until the moment they are developed by the coaches, and all the departments.” 

Furthermore, Cardoso, who also guided Tunisian giants Esperance de Tunis to a league title in the 2023/24 season, was recently honoured in his native country for the outstanding work he has done in African football.