Mamelodi Sundowns are built on the foundation of winning every game, which is why they will leave no stone unturned when they face Remo Stars in the second leg of the CAF Champions League preliminary qualifiers at home on Sunday afternoon (3.30pm kick-off).
Sundowns hammered Remo Stars 5-1 in the first leg of the qualifiers away last Sunday, putting one foot into the group stage of the premier interclub knockout competition. That result was especially pleasing for the side as they got back to winning ways after crashing out of the Carling Knockout at the hands of Marumo Gallants in the last 16.
Coach Miguel Cardoso has also seen some pressure lifted off his shoulders following a mixed start to the season, which is why he has stressed the importance of continuing with their ethos of winning— even when a tie appears to be wrapped up.
“Teams like Mamelodi Sundowns have been built over the years with a lot of investment, which makes it possible to buy the best players,” Cardoso said. “By working with them, we continue to recruit and strengthen our squad.
“Of course, there’s still the legacy of Sundowns that we need to respect. So, we understood who the Remo Stars were when we went to Nigeria. They have a huge history in Nigerian football.
“Despite our history in the Champions League, we don’t rely on that, but on what we do on the pitch on the day. If you focus on the fact that you have a star or were previous finalists, that won’t help you on the pitch.
“What will help is how you perform on the pitch. We expect Remo Stars to fight until the last minute. We have to approach the final game with full commitment and respect.”
While Cardoso knows that he can’t always rely on expectations to win every game, he has urged the fans to understand that results won’t always go their way—though they will always fight for the badge.
“When I joined the club, I was taught several values that have sustained the identity of the club,” Cardoso said. “Those values must also resonate with Sundowns fans. They have to do with commitment, support, family, and responsibility. That’s what we’re trying to uphold.
“We are not perfect. We are also victims of aggression. We are victims of moments, but we always try to show commitment during difficult times. We’ll try to show character in both good and bad moments.”
Sundowns have won the local league—the Betway Premiership—for the past eight years. As a result, expectations are high for them to end their nine-year drought in the Champions League this season.
Cardoso came close to achieving that feat last season, but they fell at the final hurdle to Egyptian-based side Pyramids. The Portuguese coach was largely blamed for that result, as he didn’t play fan favourite and skipper Themba Zwane in either leg.
With Zwane currently out injured, Cardoso will hope his return will boost the team’s chances of dominating the continent once again. For now, though, the coach has detailed what they need to do to stay on course and return to the pinnacle of African football—last reached in 2016.
“Champions are made by the commitment they have to themselves and to everyone else,” Cardoso said. “We went to Nigeria with massive respect.”
