MTN8

Cardoso admits Sundowns need to be better in cup competitions

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Miguel Cardoso coach of Mamelodi Sundowns during the 2026 MTN8 Semi Final1st Leg Mamelodi Sundowns FC Press Conference in Johannesburg on 20 August 2026 ©Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso says a lack of success in domestic cup competition in South Africa is something he is keen to fix as he tries this weekend to rescue his side’s chances in the MTN8.

Cardoso won the Betway Premiership six months into his first season in charge and took Sundowns to a much sought-after CAF Champions League title last season, but has not won any domestic cup silverware.

He has had two Nedbank Cup campaigns without success and one each in the MTN8 and Carling Knockout, and on Sunday in Umlazi has to engineer a turnaround for his team after they were beaten 1-0 at home by Lamontville Golden Arrows in the first leg of their semi-final tie.

“Regarding (home) cup finals … obviously, it’s something that we are missing. It’s really not finals, but victories in domestic cups,” said Cardoso.

“It’s obvious, I want to put cups on my CV in South Africa, and we still can.

“But to make this one,” he said of the MTN8, “we need to call back the spirit of the Champions League.

“I’ve told my players that this match should be played like a Champions League qualifying round where they have two matches. Yeah, we didn’t do it in the first leg, but still there’s 90 minutes in the second leg.

“I just hope the team finds that spirit in the right way when we take the flight to go to Golden Arrows. And we can play the second leg at the level that we need to have. It will be tough, but it’s possible that it will be done.”

Cardoso was also quick to defend his players after the surprise loss to Arrows, where Sede Dion scored the first-half goal, following some accusations of a lack of desire.

“Sundowns players always play with heart because they know they represent this club and the greatness that comes with representing this institution.

“But the question is how much power you put into everything that you do, and how consistently you do that throughout the match.

“There’s more power to put in still. It will come. But I think the team was committed and we fought until the end, and that is the character that you need to have. So what we need now is to understand that that character will speak for us in the next match,” Cardoso added.