Miguel Cardoso addresses Mamelodi Sundowns’ cup woes after MTN8 exit

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Cardoso weighs in on Sudowns' cup hoodoo

Photo: Reuters

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has addressed the club’s long-standing cup hoodoo following their elimination from the MTN8 by defending champions Orlando Pirates at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Saturday.

The Brazilians, with an away goal advantage from the first leg, were knocked out in the semi-final of the competition after a one-all stalemate took the game to a penalty shootout, where Pirates claimed a 4-1 win.

This sparked supporters’ frustration, with Masandawana having last tasted domestic cup glory during the 2021/22 season under Rulani Mokwena and Manqoba Mngqithi. Sundowns will now wait for the Nedbank Cup and the Carling Knockout Cup to try to redeem themselves.

When quizzed about the prolonged drought for a cup, the Portuguese mentor admitted that he is aware of the dire situation. However, in his defense, the 53-year-old gaffer highlighted the Tshwane giants’ dominance in the league.

“Obviously that I don’t relate with the past, I’m always a man that looks forward and to the future, looks for rebuilding when it’s important to rebuild and looks for new energy and for new things to really look back and try to understand what happened,” said Cardoso.

“I know that it’s been years since the club last won the MTN8, but I also know that for 10 years the club has been winning the championship.

Moreover, Cardoso made an honest admission that Abdeslam Ouaddou’s men gave his side a run for their money over the two legs. While he acknowledges Pirates’ strong showing, the Downs tactician believes his charges also stood their own despite being on the losing end.

“Sometimes winning knockout matches like these, there’s an opportunity that grows for everybody because it’s one match where you need to prove that you are better and you need to prove it throughout the entire season,” he added.

“I think it was clear that we had an Orlando Pirates that was pretty strong, showing what they wanted but I also think we had a Mamelodi Sundowns that was strong and trying to manage the moments [of the game].

“I didn’t see weaknesses mentally, but I also understood that we didn’t play the way we would have liked to play, and I understand the players and know why.