SO FAR, so good for new Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso, who has won his first two matches in charge of the Brazilians.
The fact that he has chalked up those victories on the back of very little time with the team suggests the Portuguese could well deliver even more once he has fully settled at Chloorkop.
He now has a chance to spend some quality time with the team without the interruption of a match, with Premiership fixtures suspended this weekend in favour of the Carling Black Label Cup clash between Knockout champions Magesi FC and the All Star team.
Sundowns saw off Stellenbosch FC 1-0 at the Cape Town Stadium on Wednesday night, courtesy of an Iqraam Rayners strike.
Cardoso thus has a few days to figure the team out properly prior to their trip to the Moses Mabhida Stadium to play AmaZulu on Tuesday night.
And, if the initial results are anything to go by, the bonding session could well spell trouble for Usuthu.
Cardoso has presided over the Braziliians’ back-to-back 1-0 wins over Raja Casablanca and Stellenbosch FC in the CAF Champions League and the Premiership respectively.
He ascribed those victories to the proper structures he has found at the club, as well as the good work done by his predecessor Manqoba Mngqithi.
Speaking after Wednesday night’s league success, the former Esperance coach handed out bouquets to his players.
“I must praise my players because they played 72 hours from my last game, and the conditions were very difficult for them in terms of recovery,” Cardoso said.
“There were issues that made us change the team, but the effort they made in the right moments made the game positive against a strong team that did not allow us to pass the ball (easily).
“And it is difficult to manage the game without the ball.”
He added: “In working with the group of people we found in Chloorkop, it is easy.
“Coach Steve (Komphela) is an amazing person, easy to relate to and has a mindset that has easily touched us.
“It is the same with Coach Kennedy (Mweene), Mathias (Zangenberg, head of physical performance) and the rest of the fitness, analyst and medical departments.
“We felt a family when coming in from another country. We brought our excitement and energy, but we were well received, and things have gone smoothly from the first day.”
The victories over Raja and Stellies have no doubt helped endear Cardoso to the Sundowns faithful, but he would do even better to send them into Christmas in high spirits by beating AmaZulu on Tuesday.
Sundowns’ victory in Cape Town has seen them take the sole lead of the 16-team Premiership table, three points ahead of Orlando Pirates, who have played a match less.
They will play yet another KwaZulu-Natal side in Richards Bay to bring the curtain down on the year (December 28).
The energy is unreal! 🔥⚽ The Brazilians continue to shine, and the support from our supporters makes all the difference! 💛
— Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) December 19, 2024
Let’s keep pushing, together we rise! 👆#Sundowns #RabatsenaGape pic.twitter.com/Mjy2XECOx6
And, with CAF Champions League matches set to come three weekends in a row at the beginning of the new year, nothing will scream Flemming Berg and Thlopie Motsepe were right to hire Cardoso more than him grabbing maximum points from the trip down to the coast.
That will see Sundowns at top of the table at the turn of the year.
With a few of their key players out injured, though, it is going to take some doing.
But Cardoso has been touted as the man to deliver the goods for the Brazilians, and there should be no excuses. | Independent Media Sport