Cardoso calls for overdue recognition of Sundowns midfielder Marcelo Allende

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso says South African football has failed to properly recognise the quality of Marcelo Allende after the Chilean midfielder went five years without being named the PSL’s Midfielder of the Season.

Allende was named Man of the Match after helping Sundowns beat Marumo Gallants 2-0 on Wednesday, producing another influential display in the centre of the pitch. Cardoso believes the individual award was recognition that should have arrived much sooner.

Speaking to SuperSport after the match, the Portuguese coach questioned how Allende’s contribution has been assessed during his time in South Africa.

“I think South Africa doesn’t recognise the quality of the player that Marcelo is. It’s unbelievable after five years, he never was the midfielder of the season.”

Cardoso suggested the midfielder’s performances this season could finally earn him the acclaim he believes he deserves, particularly with Allende potentially entering the final year of his contract with the Brazilians.

The coach’s comments raise a broader question about whether Allende has been overlooked or whether the strength of competition in the PSL, combined with Sundowns’ collective dominance, has made it difficult for one player to stand out.

There is a strong argument in Cardoso’s favour. Allende is not a midfielder whose influence is always reflected in the most obvious statistics. He does not regularly dominate headlines through goals and assists, but his importance to Sundowns has become increasingly clear.

The 27-year-old has developed into one of the key players in Cardoso’s team, contributing both when Sundowns have possession and when they are required to defend. He is trusted to help the side build attacks from deep, retain control in midfield and support the team without the ball.

His efficiency in front of goal provides one of the clearest statistical indicators of his contribution. According to OptaJabu, among players to have scored at least five league goals in the PSL since the start of last season, Allende has the best shots-per-goal ratio.

He has scored five times from 15 attempts, requiring only three shots for each goal.

That figure does not explain every aspect of his game, but it does show how effective he can be when he reaches a goalscoring position. It also underlines the difficulty of judging him solely through conventional attacking statistics.

Much of Allende’s value comes before the final pass. His positioning can stop an opposition attack from developing, while his composure in possession allows Sundowns to play through pressure. He often makes the decision that keeps an attack moving, even if another player ultimately receives the assist.

A midfielder can recover possession before a chance is created, occupy the correct area to close down an opponent or offer a passing option that enables a team-mate to carry the ball forward. Those actions rarely appear in a highlights package, but they can determine the rhythm and control of a match.

Allende’s ability to influence games in those less visible ways may explain why his importance to Sundowns has not always translated into individual awards.

He has played alongside some of the biggest names in South African football and for a club that has regularly dominated domestic competition. At Sundowns, winning, controlling matches and performing at a high level are all expected. A player who delivers consistently can therefore become almost hidden within the success of the wider team.

Competition for the award has also been strong. Teboho Mokoena and Makhehlene Makhaula are among the outstanding midfielders to have played in the PSL during Allende’s time in South Africa. Missing out on the Midfielder of the Season award does not automatically mean Allende has performed poorly or gone unnoticed.

However, five years without winning it still leaves a legitimate question. If he has consistently ranked among the league’s best midfielders, why has the individual recognition not arrived?

Cardoso’s point may not be that Allende has been unfairly denied every award. Rather, it could reflect a wider difficulty in judging midfielders whose influence is based on control, positioning and decision-making rather than spectacular moments.

Goals, assists, long-range strikes and match-winning passes are easy to identify. The work that makes those moments possible is harder to quantify.

Allende connects different phases of play, helps Sundowns maintain possession and contributes defensively. He gives the team control without necessarily becoming the most visible player on the pitch. When he does find an opportunity in front of goal, his record suggests he is highly efficient.

Whether he has been the best midfielder in the PSL in each of the past five seasons remains open to debate. But there is enough evidence to suggest that his importance to Sundowns has sometimes been easier to appreciate over the course of an entire match than through a statistical shortlist or awards announcement.

With Allende potentially approaching the final year of his Sundowns contract, he may have one more chance to turn sustained influence into individual recognition. Wednesday’s Man of the Match award offered another reminder of his quality.

The question now is whether South African football is ready to give him the wider recognition Cardoso believes he has earned.