Miguel Cardoso, Head coach of Mamelodi Sundowns ©Samuel ShivambuBackpagePix
Monday Mar 16, 2026. 15:00
Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso insists that his side are not thinking about potential glory in the CAF Champions League just yet.
The Portuguese tactician’s side claimed a 3-0 victory over Stade Malien in the first leg of their Champions League quarter final clash at Loftus Versfeld on Friday.
With a comfortable lead heading into the second leg in Bamako on Sunday, Cardoso stated that his team is simply focussed on their next match, which is a vital Betway Premiership encounter with Marumo Gallants.
“I think we are very far away from discussing winning whatever in this competition,” said Cardoso, speaking in the post-match press conference.
“I think the only thing we can discuss at the moment is how we’re going to play Marumo Gallants on Tuesday. And after that we think about the Bamako match in Mali and then we need to go to rest and from there we’ll take the rest of the season. If our mindset gets out of the next match, maybe we’re going to fall somewhere.”
After Orlando Pirates were held to a 1-1 draw with Siwelele at the Orlando Amstel Arena on Saturday, the Brazilians have the opportunity to go two points clear at the top of the table with a win over Gallants.
In order to avoid complacency in both the domestic league and the continental competition, Cardoso insists his players need to remain focussed on the task ahead and not look further than the current task in front of them.
“We need to focus just on the next one, on the next one and on the next one. There’s no more, for my part, in this house, in my locker room, in my players, my thoughts and the thoughts I want them to have are just on the next match,” he said.
“What is important to understand is that 3-0 is just a result. Football has a lot of histories of comebacks and results like this one. If we don’t go to Bamako with a serious approach and with a very strong team and the right mindset, we can have a lot of bad taste in the mouth.”
Marumo Gallants are a team in trouble, sitting 14th on the Betway Premiership log, level on points with Orbit College in the relegation zone but ahead by seven goals on goal difference.
The two sides have already met on two occasions this season. Their first league clash ended in a 1-1 draw before Gallants knocked the Brazilians out of the Carling Knockout in a penalty shootout.
Cardoso believes complacency has hurt his side against Bahlabane Ba Ntwa before, a mistake he does not want to repeat.
“I think the most important thing is that everybody [focuses] on the Marumo match. It’s a match that is important to face it very [seriously]. First of all, it’s a team that despite the situation on the table, we just need to remember how was our match there. Unfortunately, it’s a bad memory match, exactly because we were a little bit complacent on that match. And if the energy that comes from that match is the right one, what will be for sure, we have to do it. Then the approach on the next one will be more easy. So that’s what we have to do,” he said.
The two South African sides will meet at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Tuesday before the reigning league champions travel to Mali.
By Nic Gleeson