Cardoso Sets Sights On Champions League Glory After Clinching Record Title
Following Mamelodi Sundowns’ emphatic eighth consecutive Betway Premiership title triumph on Wednesday, coach Miguel Cardoso has urged his dominant side to cap off a remarkable season by conquering the CAF Champions League.
Sundowns secured their unassailable league lead with a convincing 3-0 victory over Chippa United at Buffalo City Stadium on Thursday. This result rendered second-placed Orlando Pirates’ three remaining matches irrelevant in the title race.
The Brazilians’ goals came courtesy of Iqraam Rayners in the first half, followed by a second-half brace from substitute Arthur Sales. This victory clinched a record-extending 15th league title in the PSL era, and their 18th overall league championship.
Having now secured the domestic crown, Cardoso, who took charge in December following a slow start in the Champions League and replaced Manqoba Mngqithi, has expressed his strong desire for his team to succeed in the prestigious continental competition against Pyramids.
The crucial two-legged semi-final tie is scheduled to take place on 24 May, with the return leg in Egypt on 1 June.
“It’s unbelievable, obviously,” an elated Cardoso told SuperSport TV after the title-clinching victory.
“Being in two years, champion of Tunisia [with Esperance]. I come here and be two times in the final of Champions League [where Esperance lost to Al Ahly in the final]. Let’s hope this season we can make and pick the trophy [in the Champions League]. It’s for me as a culture wonderful, it’s wonderful. It’s unbelievable.
“And I just want people to understand that it comes from hard work, from very, very hard work. It’s very exciting, but very tough to be a coach on this level, with the demands of South African football playing in such a tight schedule. But it has been so exciting also at the same time, so no it’s time to enjoy a couple of days, start working tomorrow [Thursday], obviously, on the future, the future is so close, have so much to do.”
Sundowns are set to lift the coveted league trophy against Magesi at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Sunday.
Looking beyond the Champions League final, Sundowns also have the prestigious FIFA Club World Cup on the horizon next month in the United States of America.
