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Former Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates player Brian Mathe says Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso displayed qualities of great coaches such as Jose Mourinho en route to winning the CAF Champions League.
Cardoso, 54, steered the Brazilians to their second African title in 10 years ridding the side and himself a monkey off their backs. Sundowns defeated ASFAR of Morocco 2-1 on aggregate in a two-legged final having come just close in recent seasons.
Sundowns were in the final two seasons ago with Cardoso and were edged by Egyptian side Pyramids while the event in Rabat was the coach’s personal third successive final appearance.
The Portuguese mentor was vocal throughout the campaign especially in situations he felt disadvantaged his side like the domestic schedule.
Mathe told iDiski Times senior journalist Matshelane Mamabolo in edition 263 of the newspaper that despite the moaning, Cardoso stayed focus on the job.
“I thought it was a Jose Mourinho kind of thing, because he was moaning about everything,” Mathe told iDiski Times.
‘You guys don’t support us. You guys don’t like us. You guys don’t do this thing’.
“But what was impressive was that he stayed focused on the project. And sometimes smart coaches do those things, ruffle feathers, say this and say that. And at some point, I think the league bowed a little bit to give him a bit of space.
“But it’s those kinds of characteristics that he brings in when he’s under pressure. But he’s never said, ‘My team is not going to play well’. He’ll say all of these things but still get his boys to focus on the project. And for me, I look at it and I say, what a coach that Sundowns have.”
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