Sundowns’ Cardoso Urges Team to Fix Mistakes and Return Stronger

Rethabile Nyelele12 August , 2025

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has challenged his players to respond positively following their frustrating 1-1 draw with Chippa United in the Betway Premiership on Saturday at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

Sundowns’ Cardoso Urges Team to Fix Mistakes

Arthur Sales had put the Brazilians in front during the first half, but Khaya Mfecane’s equaliser early in the second half ensured the hosts walked away with a point in a match that was both lively and physically demanding.

The defending champions will host AmaZulu at Loftus Versfeld on Tuesday, aiming to reignite their title defence after being held by the Chilli Boys in Port Elizabeth.

‘Not the ideal start’

While remaining optimistic about turning things around against Usuthu, the 53-year-old Cardoso admitted that dropping points on the opening weekend was not the start they had hoped for in a season where Sundowns are chasing a record-extending ninth consecutive league title.

“It’s obviously not the best way to begin the campaign with a draw,” Cardoso said. “We need to make sure that by the end, we have more points than our rivals. That means learning from this result, correcting mistakes, and building a stronger team for the battles ahead.”

After their clash with AmaZulu, Sundowns will shift focus to a high-stakes MTN8 semifinal first-leg encounter against fierce rivals Orlando Pirates at Orlando Stadium on Saturday.

Ready for a busy schedule

Despite uncertainty over the futures of Lucas Ribeiro and Khuliso Mudau, Cardoso expressed confidence that his squad can handle the demands of a hectic early-season calendar.

“I’m used to this tight PSL schedule, and so is the team. We know we have 72 hours to prepare for the next match,” said the former Espérance coach. “A win would have put us in a comfort zone, but we’re not there yet. We’ll handle this situation correctly and come back stronger in the next match.”

The Portuguese tactician added that the coming weeks will be crucial both on and off the field. “There’s still a lot to sort out before the transfer window closes. We need to address our issues, grow stronger each day, and continue developing our players. That’s the priority.”