Cardoso plays down Komphela-Wiliete coach incident before Champions League decider

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has dismissed the reported confrontation between senior coach Steve Komphela and Wiliete coach Beto Bianchi as a minor issue ahead of Friday’s CAF Champions League second-round return leg at Loftus Versfeld Stadium (20:00).

Komphela and Bianchi were reportedly involved in a post-match incident in the tunnel after Sunday’s goalless first leg in Angola. Claims that the confrontation became physical and involved alleged racial abuse followed.

It was also alleged that Bianchi was kicked in a “sensitive area” as he left the dressing room to attend a press conference, after which he was reportedly admitted to hospital.

Cardoso said the incident had been given more attention than it warranted and urged both sides to focus on the match.

“There are two or three things I can say: the first one is that small things can sometimes become big things obviously when you give it too much attention. I think that was [given] too much attention than necessary,” Cardoso told the media at a press conference at Chloorkop on Wednesday.

“Secondly, as a club, we were very well received in Angola, and we worked very well until the last minute when we entered the flight.

“Football has a lot to deal with emotions. They sometimes drop out from the glass; it doesn’t mean that the glass is broken or the water is spoilt it is just a little bit of emotions.”

Cardoso said the matter had already been left behind and expected Friday’s decisive fixture to be played in the right spirit.

“And we’ve already overcome that, and for sure it will be a beautiful match on Friday,” he said.

“I spoke to the (Wiliete) coach before the press conference after the match and we had an absolutely normal talk. We hope that this time there won’t be extra energy from both sides rather than on the pitch because that’s where teams have to fight. Let’s not make noise over things that are very small. There are so many things that happen in football that we don’t speak about.”

Sundowns treating second leg as a final

With the first leg ending 0-0 in Angola, Cardoso said Mamelodi Sundowns were approaching the return match as a cup final, knowing victory would secure a place in the group phase.

“I see it that way: two teams that want to move forward. We know if we win, we go through, goalless draw we go to penalties, and a score draw we are out,” he said.

“But I said finals are to be won and we need to play the best way we can to achieve results that will allow us to go to the next stage of the competition.”