Miguel Cardoso, the coach of Mamelodi Sundowns, dedicated the club's triumph in the CAFPO Cup to the late midfielder Jayden Adams, as well as to the families affected by tragic cases of gender-based violence.
The Brazilian team defeated Al Ahli 2-1 in the second round of the continental tournament. The match was scored by player of the match Nuno Santos, who netted two goals. This victory aligns with the club's ambition to gain global recognition after becoming African champions by winning the CAF Champions League.
Understanding that global success entails responsibility towards many people, Cardoso paid tribute to his departed player during the press conference following the match in the country's capital.
During the conference, Cardoso emotionally stated: 'I think this is a fantastic moment to honor Jayden Adams and dedicate this medal to his soul.' He removed the medal from his neck and tightly gripped it in his hand in Loftus Versfeld. He added: 'He is always with us. I must admit, I grieved his death very heavily. We promised ourselves that the best we could do was to fight together and honor him on our journey. Today was an important step in that direction.'
Cardoso's dedication was also linked to the horrific discovery of several women's bodies in Ekurhuleni in recent days, which raised serious concerns about the killer's activities in the area. The coach also addressed the families: 'Yesterday I spoke about the families of all the women who left us. I want to send them strength and energy.'