Miguel Cardoso: Chippa venue change disrupts Sundowns’ Al Ahli preparations

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso says a late change to the venue for Saturday’s match against Chippa United has severely disrupted the club’s preparations for their FIFA Intercontinental Cup meeting with Al Ahli.

The match was originally due to take place at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha, but the ground failed to meet PSL criteria. The fixture was moved to Buffalo City Stadium on Monday.

The switch has created extra travel and logistical demands for Sundowns before their match against Al Ahli in Tshwane. Cardoso said the revised arrangements meant the team could no longer follow the schedule they had prepared.

“I’ve already spoken a lot about South African pitches and it’s always tricky for me because I’m highly criticised when I speak about things that will take the level of the South African game to another dimension.

“We had a trip planned but the change of plans disrupts our preparations and plans for the Intercontinental Cup completely. We can no longer return home on the same day of the match and we cannot travel in the morning of the day after the game either. All we can do is enjoy one another’s company at the hotel and maybe walk on the beach.”

Cardoso said he had planned to give the squad several days off, but the alteration to the fixture schedule had made that impossible.

The Portuguese coach has previously spoken critically about playing conditions in South Africa and suggested that improvements to pitches would help raise the standard of the domestic game.

The venue change also affects the team’s movements after the match, with Sundowns unable to return home on Saturday or travel back on the morning after the game.

Cardoso’s Brazilian mentor does, however, have positive memories of Buffalo City. Sundowns won the Betway Premiership title at the stadium in May 2025.