Cardoso says Sundowns ‘understand what is at stake’ ahead of MTN8 final

Mamelodi Sundowns manager Miguel Cardoso says his side are fully aware of the importance of Saturday’s MTN8 final against Orlando Pirates at Moses Mabhida Stadium.

The match will be Cardoso’s first domestic cup final since taking charge of Sundowns, although the Portuguese coach has already guided the club to the Betway Premiership, CAF Champions League and African-Asian-Pacific Cup titles during his 100 matches in charge.

Sundowns have not won a domestic knockout competition since lifting the 2022 Nedbank Cup, increasing the importance of the MTN8 final for the club.

“We know the responsibility of a match like this,” Cardoso said. “We want to do well.”

Cardoso acknowledged that the occasion would also be significant for members of his coaching staff who have not previously taken part in a domestic cup final.

“For (some) us, as the coaching staff, we have never played a (domestic) cup final so obviously it is an important moment for us,” he said.

“But it is just the next match; we will play on Tuesday against Richards Bay immediately after and then on the weekend in the qualifiers of the Champions League.”

Managing the demands

With Sundowns facing a demanding run of fixtures, Cardoso said preparations must account for the possibility of using players who are not fully fit.

“The objective we have to consider in our preparations is the risk involved for example, using players who are not 100%,” he said.

Despite those concerns, Cardoso insisted Sundowns would approach the final with full commitment.

“But when we go for this match, we will go with full intention, full commitment; we understand what is at stake, and we will obviously want to continue the season in the best way,” he added.

“We are taking nothing for granted and are very suspicious of everything, it means that we have to prepare ourselves for all the details.”

Cardoso expects a contest of Champions League quality against an Orlando Pirates team he regards as one of the strongest in the country.

“It will be a high-level match, at the same level as a Champions League match, because Orlando Pirates is a high-level team full of quality players,” he said.

However, he stressed that the final would form only one part of a season that will demand different responses from Sundowns.

“But it will be just one more match, and what will speak for us will be the end of the season, and then we will have to make a balance because throughout the season there will be so many challenges that we have to approach in a different way,” said Cardoso.

Sundowns are scheduled to compete for silverware in four consecutive months. They lifted the African-Asian-Pacific Cup last month, will contest the MTN8 in October and face the CAF Super Cup in November.

December will bring three further opportunities: the Carling KnockOut, Challenger Cup and Intercontinental Cup.