Miguel Cardoso proud as Mamelodi Sundowns make African football history

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso says he is “very proud” to have placed the club and South Africa in the history books after their 2-1 victory over Al-Ahli Saudi in the African-Asia-Pacific Cup at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Saturday.

The win sent Sundowns through to the next stage of the competition and underlined their ambition to go further, with European champions Paris Saint Germain (PSG) waiting in the final.

A brace from Nuno Santos secured victory against the Saudi Arabian side and booked Sundowns a place in the next round. They will face the winner of the derby of the Americas between Mexico’s Toluca and the winners of the Copa Libertadores.

If the South African club win that semi-final, they will meet PSG in the final later this year in what would be a landmark occasion for Mamelodi Sundowns.

“I’m obviously proud to put the name of the club on this platform. Proud to put the name of SA on this platform,” Cardoso said.

“It is also important from our side that we put the continent on the platform that needs to be put on its own. So Africa in general has amazing football and it is an opportunity for us to project the football.

“I have to confess, I’m very humble, but at the same time, with the accomplishment, I don’t think it’s easy to express.”

Cardoso credited his players’ commitment to their preparations for helping them overcome Al-Ahli Saudi.

“To win, I depended on the way these players embraced the preparations of the match,” he said. “How they understood how difficult it was because this team is difficult to control.

“Not with the quality of the players but the game they play, but how they have to take it to the limit. Players like [Thabang] Matuludi, as you said, didn’t make more than whoever or others.

“They just embraced the collective idea and gave their best individually in service of the collective.”

The Sundowns coach also dedicated the result to the late Jayden Adams, paying a personal tribute to the midfielder.

“I want to leave a special word in memory of Jayden Adams. I think it’s a fantastic moment to honour him and dedicate this medal to his soul,” Cardoso said.

“He’s always with us and he’s always with me. I must confess that I struggled a lot with his death, and we promised ourselves that the best thing we could do is to fight together and honour him throughout our journey together.

“Today was an important step in that direction and before the match.”