New Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso is fighting history at the Chloorkop club, writes Mazola Molefe.
The unexpected exit of Manqoba Mngqithi as the Mamelodi Sundowns head coach after only eight Betway Premiership matches marked a complete dismantling of the 2016 Champions League technical team.
It was also a shift from the Motsepe family in restoring their faith in European coaches following the appointment of Portuguese tactician Miguel Cardoso as Mngqithi’s replacement, although the decision not to immediately confirm the length of his contract raised eyebrows on the day he was announced.
That aside, the Sundowns hierarchy was reverting to its old habits – a trend that had been deeply rooted in the type of coaches traditionally preferred at Chloorkop, until the club took a different direction with the arrival of Pitso Mosimane.
The media wasted no time in reminding Cardoso of what lies ahead – and of course the obvious bit of history that no European coach has ever achieved anything meaningful since 2004 when the Motsepe family bought the majority shares.
“I didn’t know that,” said the Portuguese mentor, who came fresh from being sacked by Esperance despite winning the Tunisian league title last season.
“But I know that in Tunisia no foreign coach had ever taken the club to the Champions League final until I arrived. I did it. No one ever got into the Champions League [preliminary round] and won 8–0, but we did it – we established a record.”
Some will argue Sundowns have in the past employed coaches with an even bigger profile than that of Cardoso, whose CV boasts prestigious clubs like FC Porto, SC Braga, Sporting, Shakhtar Donetsk as well as Esperance.
The Brazilians broke the bank for Luis-Oscar Fullone, Angel Cappa (both Argentina), Henri Michel (France), Hristo Stoichkov (Bulgaria) and Johan Neeskens (Netherlands) – but none of these big names won silverware.
“I don’t think about what happened in the past. I look forward to the future and I don’t like being in a comfort zone. I prefer being out of it and expressing myself, taking along with me the team to the next level,” explained Cardoso in his attempt to make a compelling case why he would buck the trend.
“We should think forward and not stay attached to what happened behind us – we don’t work for records. We dream alone, but we make them come true together. I don’t like dreamers, but instead I want people that work towards the same objectives. I think I want to work day-by-day to make sure we achieve our best.”
The club did not have to spell out their expectations to Cardoso, with the targets obvious in securing the league title for the eighth year in a row as well as adding to that 2016 Champions League honour.
Given that Sundowns sacked Rulani Mokwena even after he had won the championship with 23 points clear of their nearest rivals Orlando Pirates last season as well as the inaugural African Football League, the Portuguese mentor should know that he has his work cut out for him.
“We respect and understand the heritage of this club and we want to be part of it and make history as well – that means keeping up the standards of this club. I believe things will happen naturally, that’s how it always happens with me,” the coach said.
