Sundowns coach Cardoso says Chiefs prepared well

Mamelodi Sundowns have gone 18 points clear after Saturday’s 1-0 win over Kaizer Chiefs.

MAMELODI SUNDOWNS 1-0 KAIZER CHIEFS

A Lucas Ribeiro stunner was enough to seal Sundowns’ third win over Kaizer Chiefs this season. According to coach Miguel Cardoso, Amakhosi made it a tough afternoon for the champions.

“We expected that Chiefs would overload the midfield with numbers but we knew that would give opportunity’s on the sides, and we have capacity on the sides, that’s how we scored as you remember their full back… they had midfielders controlling the insdie,” Cardoso said via iDiski Times.

“And their wingers controlling the insides, trying to close our build-ups inside, so their full-back was jumping on our full-back, but we knew then we have two in front and if we could attract one centre-back, eventually we could play the ball into the space.

“So Peter made that movement, Iqraam went into space, received the ball and he passed to Lucas to make the goal. As I said it’s the players who interpret things, it was a very hard game, very tactical, very well prepared by coach Nabi.

“They have also good players and there’s an emotionality behind these kinds of matches, we don’t want to highlight it because our players are already tense for these games, so my approach is always low in demanding, just give them tools to find answers.

“Sometimes if goes well, sometimes not, this time it went well, I’m happy for that, but tough game, very tough game.”

MANQOBA MNGQITHI VOWS TO BOUNCE BACK

Mamelodi Sundowns’ former coach, Manqoba Mngqithi, has shown belief in himself after he was let go by the Betway Premiership champions.

“I don’t think people who speak behind cameras hurt me that much,” he confidently stated on Arrows’ podcast Up Back Through Podcast,” as quoted by iDiski Times. “Because sometimes they don’t even have an identity. So, I’d be unfair to myself if I want to always feel bad [about] what people say.

The former Sundowns trainer added: “We made these choices of the careers that we are doing, and at home it is said ‘A car that is not moving is not barked at by the dogs’, but when you’re doing something right, you then become the ultimate target.

“Fortunately for me, I think the person who knows me better than many people is sis Mato [Madlala], the owner of this club. She knows me that I’m so thick-skinned…I don’t give a damn about what people are saying.

“Because I know my capacity, and I know what I’m capable of. And I’m not seeking any… You know people with societal pressure question ‘do I fit in, do I not fit in. What do people think of me?’ I don’t have that. I’m too confident.

“I’m a strong believer in my principles, no matter who says what. I’m so confident about my capacity as a coach.

“I know I will still get another job. It’s inevitable. It’s something you can’t stop. I’ll get another job, and I will do well in that job, it’s life.

“Fortunately, with God’s grace, I think I have won too much. That is the truth. When I started coaching, I always wanted to win trophies because how will it be that you are a conqueror, but you have never conquered,” concluded Mngqithi.

DID MAMELODI SUNDOWNS MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION TO RELEASE HIM?

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