Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has urged fans to show more support in CAF inter-club competitions with three clubs in the semi-finals.
Cardoso was speaking after the 0-0 draw against Al Ahly in the first leg semi-final addressing whether the scoreless draw is a positive result, due to now needing a win or a score draw in Cairo to progress to the final of the CAF Champions League.
Sundowns did not have a shot on target, not create one big chance, according to the data at full-time but Cardoso said it’s not a cause for concern but rather flattering, given Al Ahly set up in a defensive structure, narrowly, with four centre-backs and two defensive midfielders, aiming to break Sundowns off quick transitions.
However, he did go on to address the atmosphere at Loftus, while it seemed to fill up closer to the end of the opening half, Cardoso feels more can be done to rally all South African clubs in these continental competitions.
“It’s so sad to see such beautiful stadium almost empty,” he told the media after the match.
“When you have a semi-final of a Champions League, so you should have a full stadium, supporting us, giving us extra energy that 20%, also catapults you in the front.
“It’s so tough to play these kinds of games. It’s the best players in Africa playing this match. Because sometimes people ask me what is the difference between the northern African teams and the southern African teams. It’s also that [stadium capacity].
“In Cairo, you have a 90,000 stadium cheering from the first to the last minute. Giving energy whatever happens in the pitch, and today, despite we felt the energy from our fans, we should have a full stadium cheering.
“A full South Africa on this stadium. And that should happen with the matches from Stellenbosch and from Orlando Pirates the same, and we didn’t, we didn’t.
“Unfortunately, I could not look behind, but I think the stands behind me were quite okay, the rest of the stadium was unfortunately not in the level of this game.
“And that also could help us some energy and it’s important that the next matches that we playing home, championship, because we have very tough championship matches ahead that our supporters can come in numbers and give us the energy we need.
“Because to get over this kind of teams, you need everybody to play. The players, the coaches, the staff. Everybody and the fans. But we believe we’ll cope with the energy that will come from the outside in Cairo.”
Sundowns will face the record 12-time African champions in Egypt on Friday for the return leg.
