Former Mamelodi Sundowns Defender Defends Miguel Cardoso Amid Sacking Talk

A former Mamelodi Sundowns defender has voiced his astonishment at the growing calls for head coach Miguel Cardoso to be sacked, despite the team's recent successes.

Cardoso, who took the helm midway through last season, guided the team to a Betway Premiership title and a CAF Champions League final. Nevertheless, a segment of the fanbase remains unconvinced and demands for his departure persist.

This debate resurfaced as Mamelodi Sundowns prepared to go resume their Champions League campaign, with their encounter being against Al Hilal at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Friday.

Both clubs have secured a win and a draw from their first two games, making this a top-of-the-table clash in Group C.

Speaking to KickOff, former Mamelodi Sundowns and Jomo Cosmos player Hilton Jordaan weighed in on the situation.

"It's going to be a really tough game," Jordaan said. "The issue at Sundowns right now is the problem they have with the coach. The fans want him out. Because of that, there must be a little bit of turmoil. It's going to be a hard game tonight."

Jordaan firmly defended Cardoso's record, arguing that the coach has done nothing to warrant such criticism.

"Cardoso can win a second star for Sundowns. They must just keep him," he insisted. "What's he done wrong? He hasn't done anything wrong. He won the league last year. He got to the final of the Champions League. He's done nothing wrong."

Meanwhile, speculation surrounding Pitso Mosimane’s potential return to Mamelodi Sundowns has reached a fever pitch as the legendary tactician remains without a club since his departure from Esteghlal in early 2025.

While Pitso Mosimane has been focused on his nationwide youth soccer schools, reports suggest that "Jingles" is in high demand to replace current head coach Miguel Cardoso following the Brazilians' recent exits from domestic cup competitions.

The rumours have been fueled by fans eager to see the man who delivered five league titles and the 2016 CAF Champions League trophy return to restore the team's domestic dominance.

However, Cardoso has publicly dismissed these links, branding the talk of a coaching change as a "destabilising" force intended to disrupt the squad's focus on their current continental campaign.

Despite the noise, a sensational reunion remains complicated by ongoing legal disputes between the two parties, leaving the South African football fraternity waiting to see where the continent's most decorated manager will land next.