Miguel Cardoso backs Mamelodi Sundowns winger Tashreeq Matthews after AmaZulu display

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has defended Tashreeq Matthews and rejected suggestions that the winger is selected simply because of their relationship, insisting the 25-year-old earns his place through his performances in training.

Matthews was named Man of the Match after scoring once and creating two goals in Sundowns’ 5-2 victory over AmaZulu on Wednesday. The result followed a standout contribution from the player, who joined Sundowns from Sirius in January 2024 and has made 110 appearances for the club since his move.

Cardoso said Matthews had been unfairly targeted by critics but had shown throughout the season that he deserved opportunities in the team.

“Tashreeq is one of the most criticised players in this club but he’s doing things well,” the Portuguese coach stated.

“Tashreeq grew throughout the season. I’m not the father of Tashreeq as people keep saying – ‘ah, the coach just puts [him on]’. No, no, no! I deal with performance.

“He was consistent in showing in training sessions that he deserved to play. And he played, when he doesn’t show he stayed out. Last match, he stayed because he was not strong enough during the preparation, so he stayed out.

“Now, he came back. Maybe he’s fresher and that’s why he performed. Because fatigue also obviously touches the capacity to produce stability behaviours.

“And I also think that Tashreeq is too criticised because sometimes he wants to do well and I know that in the [Club] World Cup, there was a goal he could’ve scored, in the final against Pyramids he has a goal he could’ve scored – yes, there was.

“The question is not the ones that he didn’t score, it’s the ones that he can score after he failed. Because today when the match finished I gave an embrace to Mali and I told him exactly that.

“After you fail, it’s important how you react. That speaks for you, not the mistake you did. The mistake you obviously have to avoid and grow from there but how you show your character and he finished the match continuously the way he had to play.”

Cardoso also called for greater support from Sundowns’ coaches, club and supporters, arguing that persistent public criticism could damage the team’s progress.

He said players should be encouraged because they are the footballers available to represent the club, and that the squad must maintain belief if it is to continue improving.

“And this is how we support our players,” he continued.

“Because if myself, I allow my coaches, or I allow my club, or I allow my fans or our fans to criticise our own players, we cannot. We need to support, support, support!

“Because they’re the ones we have and the ones we have are the most important players for us. And for us they are the best in the world.

“And then we go to see if every match we play, there’s someone better than us. But with this belief the team has to grow, and we need to be united, united, united!”