Sundowns turn focus to Champions League final

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso hailed championship success for his club and said winning the league title with one game to play allowed him now to start planning for the African Champions League final later this month.

A 3-0 away win over Chippa United in East London on Wednesday left Sundowns in an unassailable position at the top of the Betway Premiership and ensured their eighth successive league title.

“I will start thinking about it now, yeah, I will,” said a victorious Cardoso after the match.

“It doesn't mean that we will not prepare to win our next match (against Magesi on Sunday). Of course, we will, because Magesi has been doing well in their last games, so we need for sure to take care of them, because we want to finish the league in the best way in front of our fans, but myself, I will now obviously start planning for Pyramids.”

Sundowns finish their Betway Premiership fixtures against Magesi at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Sunday and then host Pyramids of Egypt in the first leg of the Champions League final on May 24. The return game in Cairo is on June 1.

“I know that my people are working on it because that's the way we prepare, the way they are working also on the World Cup. But about the World Cup, I don't worry at all, but now I have time to start watching something about Pyramids. But let's keep an eye on ourselves because that's also the most important thing for sure.”

'GREAT EMOTIONS'

Cardoso described the title win as a wonderful experience after goals from Iqraam Rayners and Arthur Sales saw them romp to a three-goal victory for a third successive match.

“A great feeling, great emotions, great feelings, great sensations. We’ve gone through a lot of wonderful emotions, which have brought to the team the feelings that we needed. I think that the values that we developed in the locker room, the way we overcame the worst moments, and we really developed a good sense of love, of brotherhood, among us,” he said.

“The spirit in the changeroom has been a wonderful pleasure to experience in these last months. I think that when I arrived obviously, it was clear that there was something that needed to change, mostly the energy. It had nothing to do with the work of the previous coaches, who I respect so much, because it was not a matter of results, it was really a matter of the atmosphere.

“We invested a lot in the relationships (with the players), because football is not only the way you touch the ball, but also the way you connect among yourselves.

“I think that was the key; the ambience, the spirit. It has been a wonderful experience to be in South Africa.”

Cardoso said he had thoroughly enjoyed his six months in South Africa after taking over from Manqoba Mngqithi in December.

“It has been a wonderful experience to be at Mamelodi Sundowns and a wonderful experience to work with this group of players. To feel the love of the fans, the way [South Africans] embrace football is a wonderful experience.

"But it has also been hard, very hard working, but the energy that we receive [in return] also pushed us so much forward, pushes that we always felt excited to wake up and go to work. I really feel always excited to go to work, so that's how you overcome difficulties,” he added.