BETWEEN THE LINES
Smiso Msomi|Published
Miguel Cardoso’s journey at Mamelodi Sundowns has been anything but comfortable, but four trophies later, the Portuguese coach has a stronger case than ever for why he deserves to lead one of African football’s biggest clubs.
Since arriving in December 2024, Cardoso has won the Betway Premiership, the CAF Champions League, the FIFA Africa-Asian-Pacific Cup and, most recently, the MTN8. Yet his time at Chloorkop has been defined as much by scrutiny and disappointment as it has by silverware.
At Sundowns, winning is an expectation. The league title is almost a prerequisite, while success in Africa is the benchmark against which coaches are ultimately judged.
Cardoso delivered the domestic crown in his first season, but that was not enough to silence his critics. Losing the 2024/25 CAF Champions League final to Pyramids FC, 3-2 on aggregate, raised questions about whether he could take Sundowns over the final hurdle.
Those doubts were understandable. The club had built a squad capable of dominating South Africa and wanted to re-establish itself as the continent’s leading force.
Reaching the final was an achievement, but losing it meant Cardoso had to return and prove he could finish the job.
He did exactly that in May 2026, guiding Sundowns to a 2-1 aggregate victory over Morocco’s AS FAR to claim their second Champions League title.
It was a defining moment in his tenure. Rather than allowing the disappointment of the previous campaign to derail him, Cardoso responded by delivering the trophy that carries the greatest weight in Sundowns’ ambitions.
There were still frustrations. Sundowns surrendered the league title in the 2025/26 season and endured disappointment in domestic cup competitions, showing that continental success does not automatically translate into dominance everywhere.
But the new campaign has brought fresh reasons for optimism.
Sundowns defeated Al Ahli Saudi 2-1 to win the FIFA Africa-Asian-Pacific Cup before beating Orlando Pirates 2-0 in Saturday’s MTN8 final at Moses Mabhida Stadium.
Teboho Mokoena opened the scoring before Iqraam Rayners converted a stoppage-time penalty to secure Sundowns’ fifth MTN8 title and deny Pirates an unprecedented fifth consecutive crown.
For Cardoso, the victory ended Sundowns’ wait for the competition’s trophy since 2021 and added another achievement to a tenure that has steadily gathered momentum.
However, declaring his mission accomplished would be premature. The Betway Premiership, CAF Champions League, Nedbank Cup and Carling Knockout remain major targets, while further international opportunities depend on qualification and competition formats.
Managing a star-studded squad across multiple competitions will test his tactical flexibility, rotation and ability to keep players focused.
That is the reality of coaching Sundowns: success does not buy time to relax. It raises expectations for what comes next.
Cardoso has earned the right to be judged on his achievements, not solely on the finals he has lost or the setbacks he has endured. Four trophies provide a compelling response to those who questioned his credentials.
But at Chloorkop, the ultimate measure is not what a coach has already won. It is whether he can keep winning.
Cardoso has survived the storm. Now he must turn this success into sustained dominance.