Miguel Cardoso Dismisses Claims That Off-Field Issues Are Hurting Sundowns’ Start
Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has dismissed claims that off-field issues are impacting the team’s performances at the start of the 2025/26 season.
The Brazilians began their campaign with a win over Richards Bay in the MTN8 but dropped two points in their league opener against Chippa United.
“We took a calculated risk against Magesi by resting some players whom you and the fans consider key, but for me, the strongest players are the ones currently on the pitch,” Cardoso explained.
“That said, none of this is related to internal issues within the club. Everything here is peaceful. We enjoy every day without problems — meals are provided for breakfast and lunch, training facilities are in good shape, and the atmosphere is calm.
“The players arrive on time, and we focus on the resources we have. We don’t get distracted by outside noise or speculation.
“Off-field politics involving the board, chairman, or sporting director don’t affect our work. The players and I concentrate solely on our opponents. We study, prepare, and execute our game plan — and we’ve been performing well.
“After just 10 minutes in the match, the game unfolded exactly as we anticipated, and we managed to keep control. The intensity and aggression were there, but I felt more active and pressured than usual — that’s a challenge we’re ready to face. We know we need to push harder.
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“The smooth, dynamic interplay from players like Allende and Mokoena is crucial. When that’s missing, ball circulation suffers, we lose possession, and some might blame individual players for ‘ruining’ the team. But in reality, we’re building strength and resilience. This phase will only help us grow in character.”
Source: Briefly News
