Cardoso Responds To Fans Calling For His Departure At Sundowns
Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has acknowledged the growing discontent among supporters, with some fans calling for his dismissal following a run of disappointing results.
Sundowns suffered a damaging 2-1 defeat to Al Hilal in their CAF Champions League group-stage match in Kigali on Friday, a result that has intensified pressure on Cardoso as calls for his sacking continue to grow.
The loss has left Sundowns in a precarious position in their bid to reach the knockout stages, with the team now needing to win their remaining two group matches at all costs to avoid elimination. They are currently second in the group with five points after four matches, while Al Hilal lead with eight points.
Amid speculation about his future, Cardoso stressed the importance of respecting both the club’s past and present.
“When the team loses, there are a lot of fans who want the coach to go,” Cardoso said. “It’s good that we have people with good language in the club, and we have to respect the past and also the present.”
The Portuguese coach, who joined Sundowns in December 2024, has come under intense scrutiny, particularly following the team’s struggles in cup competitions. Despite winning the Betway Premiership last season, Sundowns fell short in other tournaments, including the Nedbank Cup and the CAF Champions League.
This season, the Brazilians have already been eliminated from the MTN8 and the Carling Knockout. However, they remain top of the Betway Premiership standings, albeit by a narrow margin.
Cardoso attempted to downplay speculation surrounding his future, saying: “I spoke in the press conference before this game about this, and it’s not a subject to speak a little bit more about.”
Despite this, rumours continue to circulate about a possible return of former coach Pitso Mosimane, as pressure mounts on Cardoso.
The Sundowns coach will be eager to bounce back from the defeat and silence his critics, but time appears to be against him.
On a separate note, Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams was unavailable for the clash against Al Hilal, and Cardoso provided an update on the Bafana Bafana captain’s injury.
“That is a good question for our medical department, but for now I cannot tell you when he will be available,” he said. “It’s not a long-term injury, but I need to focus on the players we have now. In the last league match, we played with Denis Onyango, who made fantastic saves and helped us win that game.”
Sundowns return to action on Wednesday when they face Gomora at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in the Nedbank Cup round of 32, before travelling to the DR Congo to take on Saint Éloi Lupopo in the Champions League.
By the time they face Lupopo, Sundowns could find themselves even further under pressure in the group standings.
