Mamelodi Sundowns head coach, Miguel Cardoso, called for patience regarding his team following a difficult start to the season. The reason for this was the absence of several important players or their insufficient form.
The Brazilian team faced difficulties in the match against Kaizer Chiefs in the Betway Premiership on Saturday. Players from Mamelodi Sundowns who helped them win the CAF Champions League title participated in the game.
Although Sundowns won two out of three opening matches across all tournaments and drew one, their performances were below the dominant standards set in previous seasons.
Cardoso believes that changes in the squad have significantly impacted the game. Injuries and the absence of key footballers forced the coach to seek solutions early in the campaign.
During the press conference, he noted: 'This team has undergone random changes; we lost Keane (Cupido), who was a very important asset for the organization, and we also lost Jayden Adams, and that is clearly a big gap in the center, so we need to see if we can find someone who can cover options in the center.'
Adams' departure was particularly significant as this midfielder became an integral part of the Sundowns structure after joining the club.
Cardoso also pointed to the current form and availability of other athletes as another factor hindering Sundowns from reaching their usual level. He added: 'Nuno (Santos) is currently not in good shape, and Teboko (Mokoeana) was also unavailable due to injuries, so I think people should not expect everything to happen automatically; we must work on it and give it time.'
The Portuguese coach's comments came after Sundowns drew 1-1 with Chiefs at the FNB Stadium, ending their flawless start in the Betway Premiership.
Although this result keeps Sundowns undefeated, Cardoso realizes that the team still has a long way to go before reaching the level expected of the reigning African champion.
The current task is to find the right balance while key players recover and new combinations are developed. For Cardoso, the start of the season is not a cause for concern but rather part of the process of rebuilding a team affected by injuries, departures, and personnel changes. The Sundowns coach believes that improvement will come with time and greater stability in the squad.
