The guy who ended Mamelodi Sundowns’ hopes of winning the CAF Champions League the previous season has been hired in what could be described as a classic instance of “if they beat you, recruit them.”
This afternoon, the Brazilians declared that Miguel Cardoso had been appointed as their new coach.
The 52-year-old Portuguese managed the Tunisian powerhouse Esperance, which eliminated Sundowns from the continent’s top club knockout championship at the semifinals the previous season.
Esperance defeated a Sundowns team led by Rulani Mokwena 2-0 overall, with the bald-headed Cardoso orchestrating the Tunisians’ 1-0 home and away wins.
He joins Sundowns to take over for Manqoba Mngqithi, who was in charge but was never formally named coach.
Steve Komphela and Kennedy Mweeme are still on the technical team, but Mngqithi and his assistants Romain Folz and Wendell Robinson have been fired.
Hlopi Motsepe, the club chairman, clarified that their drive to be the best and meet goals led to the decision to make the technical adjustments.
“We are an ambitious club but our team has struggled to match that type of ambition.
“It has failed to reach the high targets and our supporters deserve high quality and standards.
” The team was not reaching the high standards and rather than let the situation deteriorate, we decided to rather take this decision.”
Cardoso said he was thrilled to be a part of the team.
“I am pleased to be the head coach of Sundowns, a club with a rich culture that will help me grow a lot.
“It is a club with 54 years, a club with a big heritage and a huge identity and I will try to make them happy and represent them in the best way.”
Motsepe would not reveal the duration of Cardoso’s contract with the club.
