Sundowns Coach Miguel Cardoso Leaves SA in Absolute Shock After What Just Happen In Portugal

Miguel Cardoso Honoured in Portugal as Sundowns Coach Receives Major Sporting Recognition

The head coach of Mamelodi Sundowns, Miguel Cardoso, has been feted at the eighth Trofa Sports Gala, giving him yet another huge accolade, this time in his home country of Portugal.

At a ceremony in Trofa, the town where the Portuguese strategist was born and brought up, he was presented with the Prémio de Mérito Desportivo, also known as the Sporting Merit Award. At the event, sportspeople and sportsmen were honoured for everything they had done and accomplished throughout the previous season.

Cardoso thanked the organisers for the distinction via Instagram even though he couldn’t make it to the event in person.

To be acknowledged in the country of my birth and upbringing is always an immense honour, Cardoso said in his greeting.

This honour comes at a pivotal juncture in the coach’s professional journey. Sundowns, the South African powerhouses, won the 2025–26 CAF Champions League under Cardoso’s leadership, reclaiming the continental trophy from its previous holders, 2016.

The final was won by Sundowns, 2-1 on aggregate, against Moroccans AS FAR. The trophy was lifted by the Brazilians after they won the first leg 1-0 in Pretoria and then tied the game 1-1 in Rabat. In first-half stoppage time, Teboho Mokoena scored the game-winning equaliser, and later in the match, goalkeeper Ronwen Williams made a crucial penalty save.

After suffering setbacks in the past, Cardoso’s victory had extra significance. He has now reached the CAF Champions League final three times in a row, losing the first two times with Sundowns and Espérance de Tunis.

The focus has turned to Cardoso and Sundowns’ potential in the next campaign. There will be a lot of pressure on the coach to keep the club’s domestic standards high as they pursue their goals in Africa.

Cardoso has already achieved one of the greatest things in his coaching career during this time, and the Sporting Merit Award is just the cherry on top.

Sundowns fans will be keeping a close eye on Cardoso’s future endeavours as he aims to build upon the success he had on the European stage and contend for further hardware, thanks to this recognition.

Now that Sundowns have won the Champions League, the Portuguese coach is wondering what’s next for his team.

Source https://x.com/SoccerBeatZA/status/2106291929247822176

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