Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has issued a direct pre-match plea to the refereeing team tasked with handling Saturday’s sold-out R10 million MTN8 final showdown against Orlando Pirates.
The Brazilians will lock horns with Pirates in the MTN8 final on Saturday, 10 October, at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban. Both sides are chasing the grand prize in a clash that promises fireworks, with tickets selling out just hours after going on sale.
In this highly anticipated showdown, Sundowns are aiming to end their top-eight trophy drought, having last lifted the title in 2021 following a penalty shootout victory over Cape Town City FC.
On the other hand, the Sea Robbers have dominated the competition after winning the title for four consecutive seasons.
MIGUEL CARDOSO PUTS PRESSURE ON MATCH OFFICIALS
With the two heavyweights gearing up for the final, the Sundowns coach has urged the match officials to bring their A-game.
“Obviously we’ve never played a cup final against Orlando Pirates as the coaches, but the club has played many. We understand the importance of such games and what’s at stake,” Cardoso said during Sundowns’ media open day most recently at Chloorkop.
“We know what these games mean in South Africa; there is strong attention on the match. So we see it as one of the other matches on our way, and I can tell you that we already started preparing for the Richards Bay FC match [in the Betway Premiership set for Tuesday, 13 October] in the past two weeks.
“We don’t make a special preparation for this match [against Pirates]; we just take it like the next one, and whatever pressure comes from us is just for us to deal with in a natural way.
“This game will be important, and we want to play it as best as we can. Both teams are in a good moment, but whatever happens will not speak for the season; the season will be spoken about in the end. Obviously, let’s hope the best team wins; let’s hope Sundowns is the best team.
“By the way, I hope that the referees will be the best team on the pitch. That’s my clear request, but I hope Mamelodi Sundowns will be the best team regarding football.
“I hope we give a good example of how the match should be played by two rivals in terms of sportsmanship spirit from the start till the end.”
PLEA FOR OFFICIATING CONSISTENCY
Cardoso has long been vocal about the need to implement Video Assistant Referee [VAR] in South African football, following a series of questionable decisions that have marred domestic PSL matches in recent seasons.
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