Cardoso offers Sundowns support to new Bafana Bafana coach Mosimane

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has offered his full support to new Bafana Bafana manager Pitso Mosimane and called for closer co-operation between club and country.

Mosimane has replaced Hugo Broos and will begin his tenure this weekend when South Africa face Guinea in their opening Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at Orlando Stadium. Bafana Bafana will then travel to Egypt to play Eritrea.

Cardoso said he was ready to assist Mosimane in any way possible and stressed that players should be viewed as South African internationals while on duty with the national team, rather than as representatives of their respective clubs.

“National teams have always existed, and I totally support the work of the national team of South Africa. It is my job, and that’s why I am putting myself at the service of coach Pitso in whatever he needs from my side to help him be as strong as possible,” said Cardoso.

“Obviously, it’s not my work – it is his, but I will absolutely support him. I think it is important that we understand that in the national team, there are no Sundowns players – there are national team players. They just become Sundowns players when they come back. And there are no other teams’ players – there are just South African players, and that’s how proud I feel to see the national team of South Africa. When I see them playing, I see a national team.”

The Portuguese coach also said he had consistently prioritised South Africa’s interests since arriving at Sundowns, despite his own nationality.

Cardoso said he had maintained a positive relationship with Broos and had previously made himself available to support the former coach.

“That happened with Coach Hugo, with whom I also had a good relationship because that is just how I position myself as giving possibilities or whatever it is he needed from my side that he can use.”

Sundowns’ players will now join up with Mosimane’s squad before returning to their club commitments.

“The players will go, and they will play, and when they come back, we will see. Also, the coach obviously is starting – he needs to get off to a good start. We want him to start very well. And let’s hope he can produce really good results with the national team, and we will support and all stay together and celebrate those results with the same energy that we celebrate ours.”

With Sundowns facing a demanding schedule in the coming weeks, Cardoso also urged the South African Football Association (SAFA) and the Premier Soccer League (PSL) to work together more closely.