Cardoso wants ‘best team on the pitch’ to referee MTN8 final

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso says he wants the referee to be “the best team on the pitch” when his side meet Orlando Pirates in the MTN8 final.

Cardoso has called for a fair contest between two of South Africa’s leading clubs, with the officials expected to play an important role in ensuring the match provides a positive example of how a high-profile final should be conducted.

“Let’s hope the best team wins, let’s hope Mamelodi Sundowns is the best team, I hope the referee is actually the best team on the pitch, that is my clear wish, that will make me very satisfied, considering even whatever,” Cardoso said during Wednesday morning’s open media day.

The Portuguese coach added that his main hope was for Sundowns to produce the strongest football and claim victory in a match played in the right spirit.

“But then that Mamelodi Sundowns, regarding football, can be the best team and the best team wins, is my wish on this,” he said.

“I hope we give a good example about how football can be played between two rivals at the highest levels in terms of the sportsman spirit from the beginning until the end.”

Cardoso also highlighted the importance of the way the two teams behave towards one another throughout the final, both on the pitch and around the stadium.

“How the teams relate, how they respect each other, how they respect their spaces on the stadium, because for sure, from the coaches from both sides there will be respect, and the players have no issues,” he said.

“That will be for sure the image. I heard coach Ouaddou about the image, we also want to leave for the country, at this stage we know how things should go.”

Cardoso’s comments came as Mamelodi Sundowns prepared for another significant meeting with Orlando Pirates, as the two clubs compete for the MTN8 trophy and seek to reinforce their standing at the top of South African football.

The final will bring together two heavyweights aiming to add silverware and underline their dominance of the domestic game.

Cardoso has previously spoken strongly about match officials and has been one of the prominent supporters of introducing Video Assistant Refereeing (VAR) in South Africa. He believes the technology can help raise football standards in the country.

His latest comments reflect that focus on officiating, while also stressing the responsibility of both teams, their coaches and their players to ensure the final is a respectful contest from start to finish.