Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has broken his silence on the alleged physical clash involving Steve Komphela and Wiliete SC mentor Beto Bianchi following their CAF Champions League fixture this past weekend.
The Tshwane giants were held to a frustrating goalless draw by Wiliete in the first leg of their second preliminary round tie away from home, with the Angolan side producing a resolute defensive display to deny the defending champions.
The result leaves the tie delicately poised ahead of the return leg on Friday in Pretoria for a spot in the Champions League group stages.
Following the stalemate in Angola, reports claimed a physical altercation erupted between members of the two technical teams, involving Wiliete coach Bianchi and Sundowns’ Komphela.
STEVE KOMPHELA AND BETO BIANCHI IN ALLEGED POST-MATCH CLASH IN ANGOLA
Bianchi was reportedly hospitalised after the incident, which allegedly escalated when the Angolan side’s mentor directed racial slurs at Komphela. Further reports claim Komphela struck Bianchi during the scuffle, prompting Wiliete to consider lodging an official complaint with CAF.
Speaking to the media at Chloorkop on Wednesday during an open day ahead of the return leg, Cardoso downplayed the incident and urged the public not to blow the situation out of proportion.
CARDOSO REACTS TO ALLEGED KOMPHELA-BIANCHI CLASH IN ANGOLA
“There are two things that I can say. Small things can become big things when you give it too much attention,” Cardoso said, responding to a question from FARPost.
“I think that [incident] had too much attention to what really happened. The second one is that we were very well received and we were taken care of very well, even to the last moment we took our flight back home.
“The two teams had a good relationship, and we are still establishing a good relationship in terms of how people connect.
“So football has to do with a lot of emotions; there were a lot of emotions. Sometimes those emotions break out, and we have already overcome that, and it will definitely be a beautiful match on Friday between people who respect each other. We will welcome the people from Wiliete very well.
“I spoke to the coach [of Wiliete, Bianchi] before the press conference and after the match, and we had an absolutely normal talk, and we hope that this time there won’t be extra energy from both sides rather than on the pitch because that’s where the teams have to fight each other. Let’s not make noise over things that are very small. There are so many things that happen in football that we don’t speak about.”
The Tshwane giants will be aiming to secure a decisive victory on home soil to book their place in the group stages of the continental competition.
However, Cardoso faces a few injury concerns ahead of the clash, with key players Teboho Mokoena, Ronwen Williams, and Aubrey Modiba all facing late fitness tests before Friday night’s showdown at Loftus Versfeld Stadium. Kick-off is at 20:00.
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