Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has shifted the team's focus to the upcoming Betway Premiership season after completing their preseason tour in Austria.
Preseason Tour in Austria
The Mamelodi Sundowns squad concluded its training camp in Austria with a match against current Algerian champions MC Alger, which ended in a 1-1 draw on Sunday. The Brazilian team returns home to prepare for the start of the Betway Premiership, finishing the tour with two draws and one loss.
In the game against MC Alger, Zinedine Ferhat scored in the 55th minute, putting Sundowns at risk of a second consecutive defeat. However, Brian Leon managed to equalize in the 74th minute, securing a draw for the team in the final match before the new season.
Results and Tactical Experiments
Earlier in the tour, Sundowns drew 1-1 with German club Hertha Berlin, followed by a 0-2 defeat to Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal. Although the lack of wins in three friendly matches might seem worrying, the results require deeper analysis.
Cardoso used most of the tour to assess reserve players and young members of the squad instead of relying on the main players. The camp also provided valuable opportunities for footballers aiming to make the senior squad.
Some regular players only joined the team after participating in the FIFA World Cup with the Bafana Bafana national team. Their late arrival prevented Cardoso from working with the strongest team consistently; instead, he helped the returning international players gradually return to training after an intense month in North America.
The Austrian camp also allowed the Portuguese coach to conduct tactical experiments, integrating new faces into the squad before another demanding season. Sundowns now has less than a week to gather before the competitive football begins, where they will face Marumo Gallants on Saturday (match starts at 18:00).
Challenges Ahead of the New Season
The team's task will not only be to improve physical fitness and complete preparatory activities. Furthermore, the squad must cope with the emotional shock following the tragic death of midfielder Jayden Adams, whose passing overshadowed the club's preparation for the new season. Balancing this grief with preparation for participation in multiple tournaments will be one of Cardoso's biggest challenges in the coming weeks.
Sundowns will once again aim to win all available major trophies, including the Betway Premiership, domestic cup competitions, and defending the CAF Champions League title.
Although victories in Austria were unattainable, the preseason fulfilled its primary function. Cardoso assessed his squad, welcomed back players who participated in the World Cup, and laid the foundation for another long season. The real test begins now, as Sundowns is expected to quickly forget the preseason results and start fighting for trophies again.
