Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has asked the Masandawana faithful to trust his decisions in the coming weeks, warning that some of his team selections may raise eyebrows as the club navigates a congested fixture schedule.
The Portuguese mentor says rotation will be a necessity rather than a choice, and he wants the supporters to understand the thinking behind it before the line-ups are announced.
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Cardoso was candid about how fatigue and fixture volume will shape his selections, and he hopes the Sundowns faithful will back him even when a familiar name is missing from the starting XI.
Having just secured their first MTN8 title since 2021, after winning the FIFA African-Asian-Pacific Cup, it’s two for two trophies this season out of a possible nine for Sundowns – who currently lead the league table.
“I’d like Sundowns to understand that [we need to rotate] so they support our technical decisions here and there, it will be clear that we are managing the group – but managing the group is using the ones in better conditions to play,” Cardoso said.
The message is simple: the players who start will be those best placed physically to perform, not necessarily those who have been first choice in recent matches. For supporters used to seeing a settled side, that could mean surprises on team sheets over the next few weeks.
Keeping the squad on edge
Beyond physical freshness, Cardoso stressed that morale and motivation are central to how he runs the dressing room. He wants a squad in which every player believes an opportunity can arrive at any moment.
“We also have to manage motivation, we have to have a group that is permanently on the edge of the motivation, we like to have it like that – we know we have competition in positions and there are players that can play any moment,” he said.
That internal competition, in his view, keeps standards high and ensures that players who are not starting remain engaged and ready.
Basadien the example
Cardoso pointed to Fawaaz as a prime illustration of the approach in action. The player impressed in the previous outing, but when the final arrived, Lunga and Modiba were the ones selected, a decision that tested the squad’s unity.
“Fawaaz made a beautiful game yesterday but in the final it was Lunga and Modiba playing, so the boys are giving answers to the challenges we put, we tell them to trust that their moment will appear and I was so pleased to by myself and wrapping the trophy from the plastic where he was and giving it to Fawaaz.
“He understands the message; be ready when you go inside, you can perform. He was an example amongst others, how they can perform after not playing two or three matches in a row.”
The gesture of personally handing the trophy to Fawaaz reflected the coach’s wish that every member of the squad feels valued, whether or not they featured in the starting line-up on the day.
What it means for supporters
With matches coming thick and fast, Sundowns fans should expect to see changes in personnel from game to game. Cardoso’s request is for patience and trust: rotation is designed to protect players, keep the group hungry and maximise performance across all competitions.
Whether the supporters will fully buy into the plan will be tested as the fixtures pile up and results either vindicate or challenge his approach. For now, the coach has made his position clear: the group comes first, and every player must be ready when called upon.