Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has called for the referee to be “the best team on the pitch” when the Brazilians face Orlando Pirates in the MTN8 final.
With the two heavyweights set to battle for silverware, Cardoso stressed the importance of a fair contest and believes the officials can play a key role in ensuring the final sets the right example.
It’s not the first time Cardoso speaks about officials, having been one of the bigger advocates for the implementation of Video Assistant Refereeing (VAR), saying it uplifts the standards of football in the country.
“Let’s hope the best team wins, let’s hope Mamelodi Sundowns is the best team, I hope the referee is actually the best team on the pitch, that is my clear wish, that will make me very satisfied, considering even whatever,” Cardoso said in the open media day on Wednesday morning.
“But then that Mamelodi Sundowns, regarding football, can be the best team and the best team wins, is my wish on this. I hope we give a good example about how football can be played between two rivals at the highest levels in terms of the sportsman spirit from the beginning until the end.
“How the teams relate, how they respect each other, how they respect their spaces on the stadium, because for sure, from the coaches from both sides there will be respect, and the players have no issues.
“That will be for sure the image. I heard coach Ouaddou about the image, we also want to leave for the country, at this stage we know how things should go.”
Cardoso’s comments come as Sundowns prepare for another high-profile meeting with Pirates, with both sides aiming to underline their dominance of South African football by lifting the MTN8 trophy.