Mamelodi Sundowns’ 2024/25 campaign ended on a bittersweet note. While the club clinched a record-extending eighth consecutive Betway Premiership title, another failed bid for the CAF Champions League has reignited debate around the future of head coach Miguel Cardoso.
Some believe his failure to deliver continental glory warrants immediate dismissal, while others argue that his back-to-back appearances in the final show promise and justify more time.
Here, MIHLALI BALEKA and OBAKENG MELETSE present their opposing views.
No excuses for failure – Cardoso must go
Miguel Cardoso’s first season at Mamelodi Sundowns disappointingly ended with only the Betway Premiership title, as he missed out on the coveted CAF Champions League crown.
Given the standards that Sundowns have set for themselves over the years, the Portuguese coach does not deserve to be retained for another season.
He must go!
He must be released, just like his predecessor Rulani Mokwena, whose achievement of winning the league title and African Football League (AFL) was deemed insufficient by the club last season.
Sure, Mokwena had ample time to strategise for African glory, having been at the club for many years in various roles, including assistant coach and co-coach. But the 38-year-old was in his first full season as the club’s head coach, so he deserved a second bite at the cherry — especially after losing just one match in the league.
Sundowns did not see it that way, though. Instead, he was sacked and replaced by former assistant Manqoba Mngqithi, who had also been at the club for more than a decade. Mngqithi did not even last half a season, as he was quickly dismissed and replaced by Cardoso, who was expected to be a quick fix.
Cardoso, however, has sunk more than he has swum, as winning the club’s eighth title in a row was expected — despite early pressure from Orlando Pirates.
Having failed to deliver when it mattered most, he cannot be forgiven — not when the same courtesy was not extended to those who had served the club with distinction before.
What worsens his failure is the fact that he could not improve on last season’s finish. His Esperance side had previously lost to Al Ahly after defeating Sundowns in the semi-final.
Of course, the buck stops with him, but his decision to leave the talismanic Themba Zwane on the bench for both legs of the final is something that cannot be overlooked. It was egocentric …
Zwane is not only the club captain, but one of two players — alongside Denis Onyango — who were part of the team that won the crown in 2016. His impact could have been decisive. | Mihlali Baleka
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Patience over panic – Cardoso deserves time
The sacking of Rulani and Manqoba should be seen as lessons more than anything. The chopping and changing of coaches in pursuit of one dream will eventually destabilise the good work done previously.
The Portuguese mentor has taken two teams to consecutive Champions League finals. Despite not winning either, he should not be judged solely on that, but rather on the fact that he has shown the ability to reach that stage. It is surely only a matter of time before he lifts the trophy.
Sundowns are a massive club and have been on a serious rise. What they have achieved domestically is historic — eight league titles in a row is unprecedented in this country.
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As simple as they have made it look, it will take something monumental for another team to replicate what they have done over the past eight years.
Getting rid of Mokwena was a mistake, likely driven by the failure to win the Champions League.
Yes, there are valid concerns about some of Cardoso’s tactical decisions and team selections. But that is something every coach faces. Regardless of where they are, coaches need time. Some clubs might be less patient, but time is still a crucial factor.
He was one goal away from a Champions League title. Had they beaten Kaizer Chiefs in that Nedbank Cup semi-final and gone on to lift the trophy, the narrative around him might be very different.
Zwane definitely has the quality and probably could have made a difference in both legs, but I still believe Cardoso deserves the opportunity to have a full season with the squad. Give him that, and he might be the one to finally deliver what the club so desperately seeks.
He has the upcoming Fifa Club World Cup later this month in the US to begin that process. | Obakeng Meletse
