PREMIERSHIP
Smiso Msomi|Published
Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has called on supporters to trust his selection decisions as the Brazilians prepare for a demanding run of fixtures across multiple competitions.
The Brazilians will now turn their attention to the CAF Champions League, travelling to Angola to face league leaders Wiliete this weekend.
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With the Carling Knockout also on the horizon, following a last-16 draw that paired Sundowns with Marumo Gallants, Cardoso stressed the importance of managing his squad carefully while maintaining high standards.
The Portuguese coach acknowledged that rotation would be necessary and urged supporters to understand that his decisions would be guided by players’ fitness, readiness and motivation.'
“I would like Mamelodi Sundowns fans to also understand that, so they can support our technical decisions here and there. It will be clear that we are managing the group, but managing the group puts the ones who show us that they are in better condition to play,” Cardoso said.
“We also need to manage motivation; we need to have a group that is permanently on the edge of motivation, and we would like to have them like that.”
Cardoso also challenged his players to remain ready for opportunities, pointing to defender Fawaaz Basadien as an example of the benefits of keeping the entire squad prepared.
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Basadien delivered an impressive performance against Richards Bay after Divine Lunga and Aubrey Modiba featured in the left-back position during the MTN8 final.
“Obviously, we know that we have competition in positions and there are players who can play at any moment. Fawaaz had a beautiful game on Tuesday, but in the final, it had been (Divine) Lunga and Aubrey (Modiba) playing,” Cardoso said.
“So, ja, the boys are giving answers to the challenges we’ve posed. We tell them to trust that their moment will appear.”
Cardoso said he was pleased to see Basadien respond when called upon, adding that the defender understood the message the technical team had been communicating to the squad.
The Sundowns coach, however, made it clear that rotation would not mean lowering standards, particularly with Wiliete presenting a significant challenge in the Champions League.
The Angolan side’s position at the top of their domestic league adds further importance to the encounter as Sundowns look to maintain their momentum on the continental stage.
Following their MTN8 triumph, Cardoso has also urged his players and supporters to remain humble, with several challenges still ahead.
For Sundowns, the task is to balance a demanding schedule, keep the squad motivated and ensure that their pursuit of more silverware does not come at the expense of performance.