From a signing met with raised eyebrows to a key player who’s now indispensable – Jayden Adams’ rise at Mamelodi Sundowns is nothing short of a football fairytale, writes Mazola Molefe.

Miguel Cardoso’s first remarks about Jayden Adams would have had you believing the Mamelodi Sundowns coach was opposed to the midfielder joining from Stellenbosch FC for a reported R20 million fee.

It was ice-cold in a manner that had headlines screaming ‘Cardoso sends warning to Adams’ the next day.

Yes, it was perhaps a harsh way to tell a new player that he would have to fight for his place, especially considering Downs’ pursuit of the Bafana Bafana international began long before Cardoso was even offered the post.

But it is the reality of signing for the Brazilians – a team with an embarrassment of riches on the pitch and definitely up in the stands too.

“We believe in our players and anyone who joins this group has to prove himself. That goes for Jayden and anyone else, we won’t give gifts to no one,” said the Portuguese mentor when this reporter asked for views on the latest arrival at Chloorkop.

Cardoso was a month into his appointment at the time and had just scrapped through to the African Champions League quarter-finals following a nervy 1–1 draw against Royal Armed Forces at Loftus Stadium.

Adams was one of three recruits during the January transfer window, the other two being Argentine defender Lucas Suárez and Keanu Cupido, also a centre-back from Cape Town City.

“They will have to rise and show that they are better than all players and then we will see. So, Jayden and anyone joining the group must prove themselves to everyone. We are open to discussing and analysing performances daily and the players that perform better are the ones that will go on the pitch,” was another stern comment from Cardoso about Adams.

“Anyway, we have a lot of competitions and we will give them a chance to adapt and take the best from them.”

To his credit, the coach wasted no time in testing the player’s ability as soon as he was available for selection, which was almost immediately given that the 23-year-old had already been a standout talisman at Stellenbosch.

You can put it down to Cardoso still getting used to the Premier Soccer League and being thrown with a curve ball when Adams was announced as the latest signing while he was still wrapping his head around the playing personnel that he found at the club already.

Adams presented a selection headache, but as it later turned out – a good one.

“What I’ve said, I keep to it. When a player comes to our club and faces a group of players that have quality, he needs to perform every day and he needs to perform during the training sessions. He needs to embrace the values of the team and that of the club,” Cardoso said some three weeks later. “If he does it – he will play when the chance are there.”

Adams made his debut against amateur outfit Sibanye Golden Stars in the opening round of the Nedbank Cup as a second half substitute and helping Sundowns win the fixture by a comfortable 5–2 margin.

He then followed that up with a cameo when they thrashed Golden Arrows 4–0 in the Betway Premiership before earning a full debut in the Tshwane Derby against SuperSport United, a game in which he broke the deadlock as Downs again ran riot by putting three past their crosstown rivals with no reply.

Cardoso saw it fit to start Adams in a match of even higher stakes, the top of the table clash against Orlando Pirates at Loftus Versfeld. How did the newbie perform?

“OK, the player is more calm now because the adaptation is done. This adaptation, when you have quality, is something that comes very quickly. You just need to embrace reality and accept what is happening. Just share the values,” was the coach’s honest assessment.

“We don’t accept any lack of commitment, that can take you out of the team. But the opposite puts you in because we know the players have quality. If you take the opportunity you can continue, you will play more.

“If they don’t, then the coach obviously needs to work more with them. It is my responsibility to put them at that level. My job is to shape character, and Jayden has shown character. So, we put him in naturally because he is a quality player – you know that, and you knew that before me.”

At just 23, it is safe to suggest that Adams has not only won over coach Cardoso, but Adams is likely to be a key part of the Sundowns team in the seasons to come.