Miguel Cardoso did not shy away from controversy after Mamelodi Sundowns 7-4 demolition of Siwelele at Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium on Saturday – instead, the Portuguese coach used the post-match platform to deliver a pointed broadside at football authorities and raise a damaging allegation about his CAF Champions League final opponents, ASFAR.
With the final looming just a week away, Cardoso made clear that the mood in his camp was one of defiance rather than celebration.
“We are in a very uncomfortable situation when you have to think that after that match in four days, we will be playing one of the most important games that can be played as a footballer or in a coach or a club’s life,” he told SuperSport TV after the game. “And we don’t feel any support for it.”
He acknowledged that his next emarks might not land well, but pressed on regardless. Cardoso alleged that ASFAR had received – on the day after Sundowns faced Kaizer Chiefs – a ‘wide-angled video footage of Sundowns’ game’, and was unambiguous about his source.
“I can tell you one thing, people might not accept what I’m going to say but I know that ASFAR, on the following day we played against Kaizer Chiefs had a wide-angled video from our game… delivered,” he said.
“I know because someone saw. So we are fighting against a lot of things but we are strong enough to deal everything.”
Cardoso, who predicted last season that Sundowns would be champions in normal or abnormal circumstances, was quick to stress that this campaign has been a far sterner test of character than anything that preceded it.
“Last year was a season completely different from this one – this season was a walk in the park for some of our opponents. We have been fighting like big, big men, with a lot of commitment, with a lot of will to overcome difficulties, and we will continue until the limit of our strengths,” he added.
“I feel privileged to be here, to be coach of this team, this group of players that are very resilient and find energy when there’s nothing to gift – they are magnificent and I’m proud of that.”
