Immediately after the final whistle, while the entire Mamelodi Sundowns bench ran onto the pitch in jubilation to celebrate their 8th consecutive league title and 15th overall in the PSL era, coach Miguel Cardoso knelt, stood up, and made a short prayer to savour the historic moment.
Sundowns were crowned the inaugural Betway Premiership champions when they walloped Chippa United 3-0 at the Buffalo City Stadium in East London on Wednesday night.
Cardoso, who joined Masandawana in the middle of the season, became the first non-South African coach to win a league title in 10 years.
First non-South African coach
“I was speaking with my family … you know, since I joined Sundowns. I have not seen my father and mother for seven months. My wife and my son only came to visit me twice in South Africa because Portugal is so far away,” Cardoso said after the game.
“We struggle, but we live with pleasure every day. It’s a very strange sensation that I am feeling, but a wonderful one. It has been a wonderful experience to be in South Africa, at Mamelodi Sundowns. And just a wonderful experience to work with this group of players.
“It has been hard, very hard work that we had to put in. But the energy, love, and support that we receive pushed us to get to where we are as a team.”
The Portuguese tactician revealed what kept him and the rest of the team going throughout the difficulties of fixture congestion and pressure to deliver week in, week out.
“I think that when we arrived, it was clear that something needed to change, mostly the energy. The change had nothing to do with the work done by the previous coaches [Rulani Mokwena and Manqoba Mngqithi], whom I respect so much, because it was not a matter of results.
Invested in relationships
“It was a matter of the energy around the team. So we invested a lot in the relations, a lot. Because football is not only the way you touch the ball but also the way you connect as a team.
“So, the technical team, the players, the staff, and the club having a good spirit and ambience around. That was the key for us throughout the season. And that’s how we overcame difficulties,” Cardoso added.
The Brazilians are left with one more league match against Magesi FC on Sunday at the Loftus Versfeld. They will be coronated with the new-look Betway Premiership trophy.
