CAF FOCUS
Mihlali Baleka|Published
Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has downplayed the magnitude of the scuffle involving senior coach Steve Komphela and Wiliete coach Beto Bianchi, stating that people shouldn't make a big deal out of nothing.
Sundowns and Wiliete’s first-ever meeting in the CAF Champions League group stage qualifier first leg at Estádio Nacional da Tundavala in Lubango, Angola, ended in ugly scenes, with Komphela and Bianchi caught in a physical altercation en route to the tunnel.
It later emerged that Bianchi required medical attention and was hospitalized at one point – though he has since recovered and resumed training ahead of the second-leg fixture at Loftus Versfeld on Friday night, which will serve as the tie decider following a 0-0 draw in Angola.
While the details surrounding the scuffle remain sketchy, reports claim that Bianchi racially abused Komphela in his native Portuguese language after allegedly showing respect only to Sundowns' Portuguese counterparts, Cardoso and other technical staff members.
Looking like his usual self – calm, vibrant, and energetic at training – Komphela is set to be in the dugout when Sundowns host the Angolans in the nation's capital. Meanwhile, Cardoso toned down the noise during his pre-match press conference at the club’s media auditorium at Chloorkop on Wednesday afternoon.
“Small things can sometimes become big things when you give them too much attention,” Cardoso said. “I think too much attention was given to something unnecessary.
“We were very well received and escorted en route to the airport. The two clubs established a fantastic relationship through the way people connected.”
Cardoso added that it was a classic case of emotions getting the better of both technical teams and the parties involved due to the intensity of the match.
“Football involves a lot of emotion. Sometimes emotions boil over, but that doesn’t mean the glass is broken or the water is spoiled,” Cardoso said. “It was just a bit much. We have already moved past it, and hopefully, it will be a beautiful match on Friday, with everyone showing respect for one another.”
Sundowns’ supporters, Masandawana, are expected to paint Loftus yellow and green on Friday night to help push the team over the finish line and keep their title defence intact. Cardoso emphasised that Wiliete’s supporters and team will be given premium hospitality, as focus remains strictly on on-field matters – specifically, progression to the group stage.
“There will be no extra energy from either team other than on the pitch. That’s where the teams will have to fight and play against each other,” Cardoso said. “We have moved past it, so let’s not make noise about it. There are so many things that happen in football that we don’t speak about.”