Cardoso finally finds redemption as Sundowns conquer Africa again
Miguel Cardoso stood in the mixed zone in Rabat on Sunday night with tears of joy replacing the heartbreak that had haunted him for the past year.
The Mamelodi Sundowns head coach finally delivered on a promise he made after guiding Masandawana to their second CAF Champions League title following a hard-fought 2-1 aggregate victory over ASFAR.
A tense 1-1 draw in the second leg at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium was enough to crown Sundowns kings of Africa again for the first time since 2016.
But for Cardoso, this triumph carried far deeper meaning than simply lifting the trophy.
Just 12 months ago, he watched helplessly as Sundowns players broke down in tears after losing the Champions League final to Pyramids FC in Cairo. One image, in particular, never left his mind.
“You remember Mudau standing next to the bench crying after the final against Pyramids,” recalled Cardoso emotionally.
“I hugged him and told him that next year we would embrace again, but with tears of joy.”
That promise became reality on Sunday night. Cardoso also took time to address critics who doubted him from the moment he arrived at Chloorkop.
“I remember journalists asking me: ‘Coach, what are you doing here?’” he said.
“Today is proof that we did it. Sundowns now have a second star.”
The Portuguese mentor, who had previously lost two Champions League finals with Esperance and Sundowns, finally ended his painful streak while cementing his place in Sundowns history.
