Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has expressed his view on the club’s off-field matters, describing the internal situation as calm despite the recent turmoil.
In a statement that may surprise fans, Cardoso assured that “everything is normal” within the Sundowns camp, downplaying any suggestion of problems behind the scenes.
This comes amid the ongoing controversy over the futures of key players Khuliso Mudau and Lucas Ribeiro. Both players are eager to leave the club, but the defending Betway Premiership champions are reluctant to approve their requests.
Mudau has repeatedly been linked with a move to North Africa following his standout performances for both club and national team. Meanwhile, the Brazilian Ribeiro is a target for Qatar SC. The situation with Ribeiro has escalated, with the talented attacker taking his case to FIFA’s Tribunal in a bid to force a move.
He has hired revered Belgian lawyer Jean-Louis Dupont, who famously won the landmark 1995 case involving Jean-Marc Bosman, to represent him.
SUNDOWNS CHAOS: FANS THROW OBJECTS AT PLAYERS AFTER MTN8 EXIT
A group of frustrated Sundowns supporters threw objects at the players following their MTN8 semi-final defeat to Orlando Pirates on Saturday afternoon. The incident occurred at the Lucas Moripe Stadium after the match, when players approached the stands to show their appreciation to the fans.
Club legend Tiyani Mabunda and chairman Thlopie Motsepe attempted to calm the rising tensions, but the supporters’ anger intensified, leading to a drum being hurled onto the pitch, while Flemming Berg, Sundowns’ Sporting Director, stood on the centre line of the pitch, witnessing the chaos.
The frustration spilt over outside the stadium, where police had to restrain angry fans who surrounded and obstructed the team bus.
This fan unrest comes amid a mixed start to the season for Sundowns. Although they secured victories against Magesi FC and AmaZulu FC, and drew against Chippa United in the league, the Tshwane giants’ overall performances have been unconvincing. They were ultimately knocked out of the MTN8 by Pirates, losing 4-1 on penalties after a 2-2 aggregate draw across both legs.
But Cardoso maintains that off-field issues are not a factor in Sundowns’ performance. He insists there are “no issues” within the club.
CARDOSO SHIELDS SUNDOWNS FROM OFF-FIELD ISSUES
“I think that [the performance of the team] has nothing to do with what’s happening [within the club], because it’s not happening inside the club, it’s happening outside, inside, nothing is happening,” said Cardoso.
“We’re at peace, we enjoy every day, we don’t have problems. The food is there for breakfast and lunch. The pitches are okay, we train, and there are no issues. Everything is normal, we’re calm, the players arrive in the morning as normal [for training].
“We just work thinking about who we have, and we don’t relate to those questions [about internal issues at Sundowns]. Those are political issues, the chairman [Motsepe], and the board, the sporting director [Berg], of course, me and the players we work, where we are, where we want to be, which is our opponent, we study, we define a plan – and I think we’ve been doing very well.”
Cardoso’s troops now shift their focus to the league as they prepare to travel to Soweto to face Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium on Wednesday night.
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