Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso hopes his side can get the job done in Morocco.
Image: Itumeleng English / Independent Newspapers
Mamelodi Sundowns are ready to face the hostile conditions awaiting them at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, but coach Miguel Cardoso is hoping that the spirit of sportsmanship prevails on the day — both on the pitch and in the stands.
Sundowns are just one match away from winning the CAF Champions League, having beaten AS FAR 1–0 in the first leg of the continental final at a sold-out Loftus Versfeld last Sunday. Their slender lead means anything other than a defeat in regulation time will be enough to secure the title for the first time in 10 years. For Cardoso, who lost his previous two continental finals, the match represents a shot at being third-time lucky.
The second leg will be an immense test for the Brazilians. AS FAR's ultras are expected to pack the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium — creating an intense, hostile environment intended to spur on their team and stifle the South Africans’ attacking threats.
Given his extensive knowledge of African football, particularly in the north after starting his continental coaching tenure at Tunisian giants Esperance, Cardoso says it will be an honour to be part of interclub football’s biggest match.
“We know the difficulties that we are going to face in the second match,” Cardoso said. “Of course, we want to close the season on a high note. We need to understand that the environment we’ll go into is a privilege. There are not many people who get to enjoy playing in such a beautiful stadium. There’ll be an electrifying ambience. We’ll take our passionate supporters in our hearts, and they’ll be the strength that we need in difficult situations.”
AS FAR supporters demonstrated poor behaviour in the first leg at Loftus Versfeld, having been involved in a brawl with security personnel and police in their designated area. This incident has fuelled suspicions that they could prove to be sour losers if they fall short at home, potentially resulting in objects being thrown onto the pitch.
Cardoso, however, remains optimistic that football principles will prevail — as demonstrated when both teams agreed to continue playing without VAR in the second half at Loftus Versfeld due to technical glitches, regardless of the stakes.
“I am not worried about the ambience that can happen in Morocco in terms of going beyond the limits of a football match,” Cardoso continued. “I think both teams want to create a football spectacle. I hope the spirit of sport will prevail. Myself and my assistants will have our families in the stands. More than 50 people will be coming from Portugal to watch the match. So, I am pretty sure that what we do on the pitch will shape the direction of the contest.”
Cardoso knows his team cannot enter the stadium fearing retaliation from angry supporters if they dominate the game. That’s why he has called on his troops to play as a compact unit.
“We’ll try to reduce their strengths as much as possible,” he said. “We’ll control our team as much as possible. When we have the ball, we’ll try to be compact and be strong collectively, because that is the only way we can win the Champions League.”
Cardoso has ample belief in his troops, confident they can gather the mental strength to fight back even when AS FAR dominates possession and atmosphere.
“We will fight the right way for the trophy. We need to stick to the rules and the principles of the game,” Cardoso concluded. “It will be a different match. We need to be ready for the fact that we are going to suffer. But it’s important that we apply ourselves accordingly so that the opponent doesn't feel they can come with everything while we are not there.”