Kegan Johannes of Mamelodi Sundowns with coach Miguel Cardoso during the CAF Champions League press conference ahead of their semi-final second leg against Esperance at Loftus on Saturday.
Image: BackpagePix
Miguel Cardoso’s impressive African adventure has been built on personal growth and inspiring confidence, factors he believes have sufficiently equipped him and his team to compete in high-pressure matches.
Cardoso is now on the verge of reaching his third overall CAF Champions League final, and a potential second successive one with Mamelodi Sundowns. They hold a critical advantage – an away goal and a clean sheet – ahead of their semi-final second leg clash with Esperance at Loftus on Saturday afternoon (3pm kick-off).
Achieving this feat would mark his third appearance in the final in just over two years of his African coaching tenure, and his second consecutive final with Sundowns in a year.
Granted, the strides Cardoso is making could be historic, given the rapid timeline and different environments he has coached in. However, these accomplishments will not earn him legendary status if he continues to fall at the final hurdle, following previous final losses to Al Ahly and Pyramids.
With the demonstrated maturity of this Sundowns team, odds are tipping them to end their long wait for the continental title and return to the pinnacle of African football, having last lifted the trophy under Pitso Mosimane in 2016.
Speaking during the pre-match press conference at Loftus on Friday afternoon, Cardoso reflected on his African journey, revealing why he believes the team is now best-suited to overcome any hurdles.
“A coach's journey is always an experience of learning. There’s a lot of maturity that comes from the coach,” Cardoso said. “Obviously when I arrived in Africa, I had to live up to the expectation: hit the ground running. It was the same in Tunisia.
“I remember in Tunisia, the first games we played were in the Champions League – the last two games in the group stage. So, we had to learn and adapt fast. Here, it was the same.
“We are still in pace. As much as you play in Africa and learn from reality, especially away from home, there’s a need to adapt to different contexts. So, if you ask me if I am more capable of understanding the context in those kinds of games, yes.”
Cardoso was quick to deflect sole credit for being on the brink of this African football milestone, instead singing the praises of the most important stakeholders: the players.
“I always say that when the whistle blows, the game is not for the coaches, but for the players,” Cardoso explained. “What we, as the coaches, need to do is to give them confidence and information, as well as freedom to express themselves.
“That’s what I want tomorrow: a free team that plays with joy, freedom, pleasure, and the capacity to do what they have to do. If they can do that individually and collectively, then they’ll connect and play the game with a lot of fluidity. That’s what the coach wants.”
Sundowns will, however, have to put on a spectacle without key central defender Grant Kekana, who was sent off in the first leg despite putting in a solid performance.
Given the depth at his disposal and the know-how of rotating players due to their heavy schedule, Cardoso has backed either Khulumani Ndamane or Keagan Johannes to seamlessly fill in for Kekana and help the team preserve their lead.
“It's a hard question for you when I have a player beside me such as Keagan Johannes, who has the skills,” Cardoso said. “When we trust our players, make rotations throughout the season, and give game time to everybody, we should be ready.
“But we know that all teams are stronger when they have all their players available. Teams need to be strong enough to have players who can step up and play when called. Whoever plays will, for sure, give their best and be able to deal with any situation.”