Miguel Cardoso under fire as Mamelodi Sundowns boss vows to win back fans after rocky start

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso is under mounting pressure from fans after a turbulent start to the 2025/26 campaign.

The Portuguese tactician, who replaced Manqoba Mngqithi last season, has seen criticism intensify following a 1-0 MTN8 semi-final defeat to Orlando Pirates and a subsequent Premiership loss to Mngqithi’s new side — Sundowns’ first league defeat of the season.

Cardoso, despite steering Sundowns to last season’s CAF Champions League final and earning the PSL Coach of the Season award, has only managed five wins from nine league matches so far.

The club’s demanding supporters are voicing doubts over his stewardship, sparking speculation about his job security.

“I think sometimes people talk too much because of the expectations that they have and not really because they relate to reality,” Cardoso said, defending his record.

“It’s important that people really relate with reality, and reality is numbers.” He stressed that performance metrics have improved under his leadership, but believes the fanbase underestimates the team’s progress.

Reflecting on last season’s exploits, Cardoso added: “This team last year made the fans feel probably as pleased as they have ever been. We broke all records; we didn’t break the record of goals conceded by one goal.”

After a frustrating 1-1 draw with Golden Arrows, Cardoso expressed disappointment at missed opportunities, saying: “I think we did enough to create goals today to win the match.” He hinted intriguingly that “in normal conditions, we’d be champions. In normal conditions, we’ll be champions again.”

With a clash against Richards Bay looming on Saturday, Cardoso has vowed to rally his squad and restore confidence.

He insists his focus remains on meeting the high expectations of the Sundowns faithful and reasserting the club’s dominance in South African football.