Cardoso talks about hearts, souls and brotherhood

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso is finding passionate ways to deal with the unforgiving schedules in South African football.

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso after beating Orlando Pirates 4-1 at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium. Image: SABC Sport

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has admitted he is struggling to understand the rigorous schedule in South African football.

MIGUEL CAROSO CITES STEVE KOMPHELA

Speaking to the media last Thursday, Cardoso believes that playing three matches per week has pushed his Sundowns players to impossible fitness conditions and recovery. The Portuguese mentor took a moment to share encouraging words from his assistant coach, Steve Komphela.

“There’s one thing from Steve Komphela that I share yesterday on my Instagram, that is so beautiful regarding the way you deal with football teams,” Cardoso said via iDiski Times.

“Football performance has not only to have 11 when you play, but a group of players thinking the same things at the same time, under a good physical condition. It’s about uniting hearts, souls, making brotherhood.

“I also shared a photo with myself, Thapelo [Morena] and Tebza [Mokoena] after the match with Chiefs where we were embracing each other – those are the moments the glue football people in one team and that’s what we have strongly.

“It keeps us attached and committed. For me it’s about reminding them in certain moments about that, it’s what I did at half-time, please boys, look I have told them before but it was not clear that we were using the best emotions on the pitch,” the Sundowns tactician added.

“I just reminded to them what we need to overcome difficulties – to focus on what? On us or the others, let’s focus on what we control, myself as a coach, I focus on what I can control, that’s our work, creating a team that is balance but enough aggression. We deal with the different risks in different moments of the game, try to bring variants to make the job more difficult for opponents, but I think it’s the most important thing to deal with this kind of schedule.

The Sundowns trainer added: “It’s to be united, be strong, be able to give your soul for the other one – I told them on the morning of the match – the ones I love are the ones I can give my life for. I would give my life for my mama, for my papa, for my son – if we have a strong connection.

“We can love each other, we are willing to get something more than just football aside of someone else when you are on the pitch, because sometimes you are tired, you are dying but you still need to run for something because there was a guy who lost a 1v1 and you need to compensate for him.

“If you have a strong relationship, you will run with whatever state of fatigue you are in. Maybe you don’t arrive on time but you will try and I just want them to try – it’s how I see the moment of this team,” concluded Cardoso.