Mamelodi Sundowns aim for balance as they chase long-awaited Champions League title

Mamelodi Sundowns are not obsessed with conquering the continent again — they simply know that it is part of their mandate to strive for success in every competition they enter.

It has been 10 seasons since Sundowns ascended to the summit of African football by winning their inaugural CAF Champions League under coach Pitso Mosimane — an achievement that has placed the credentials of his successors, as well as the current crop of players, under scrutiny.

Mosimane has since been succeeded by four coaches: the co-coaches Rulani Mokwena and Manqoba Mngqithi, then Mokwena, Mngqithi, and now Miguel Cardoso. And the closest any of them have come to emulating Mosimane was Cardoso’s run to the final last season.

It is not only the coaches whose credentials have been questioned. The players have also been scrutinised, particularly given how deeply the club invests every transfer window to secure top talent locally and abroad.

So, with this season marking a decade since the club won its maiden continental crown, expectations are high for them to end that drought. However, that is easier said than done.

Sundowns must also ensure they maintain the domestic standards that have seen them win the league — now known as the Betway Premiership — for the past eight years. They therefore need to balance their efforts across the board, even while prioritising continental honours.

“I think that we need to have a clear focus on winning competitions,” Cardoso said on Thursday at Chloorkop during the pre-match press conference ahead of their Champions League group-stage opening clash against St. Eloi Lupopo at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday afternoon (3pm kick-off).

“It’s not only about winning the Champions League. But I know that throughout the competition, people will start pointing to other teams and saying they should participate while we must win. That kind of talk starts quickly.

“But, for sure, we’ll be loyal to ourselves. That means knowing that we have a desire and intention. I don’t think ‘obsession’ is the right word — I think that’s a medical state. But pursuing a goal means putting all the energy you have into it.

“The Champions League is the trophy the club has been seeking for 10 years, and unfortunately last year we were not able to deliver for South Africans, especially our fans and our club.”

Cardoso also wants to deliver the continental crown for personal reasons. He has lost the title in the last two seasons — first in the final with Esperance last year, and then with Sundowns this year.

A third attempt might finally bring success for Cardoso, and it may well be the only way to secure his job after being retained despite last season’s near-miss.

“But that takes nothing away from us. It gives us energy to pursue our objective, understanding that in the end — through small details — we can reach a decisive moment and be stronger,” Cardoso continued. “But there’s a lot to do before we get there.”

“We should now think about winning the group stage first. To do that, we need to win the next match, which is the most important game of our lives.”

Indeed, Sundowns must beat Lupopo. A victory will not only get their campaign off to a strong start but also avenge the defeat suffered by their domestic rivals, Orlando Pirates, who were eliminated by the DR Congo side in the previous qualifying round a few weeks ago.

Cardoso knows it will not be easy. That is why he has outlined what they need to do to avoid falling into the same trap as last season’s team, which failed to beat another Congolese side, AS Maniema, in their opening group-stage match.

“We need to know what an opponent can do, and how to face them,” Cardoso said. “We can’t give them a match they can control easily. We know that the difference between this year’s match and last year’s should be made by us.

“The intensity, commitment, and exclusivity must be there from the first minute. If we have that, we won’t underestimate the opponents, but view them as a team vying for history.”