Mamelodi Sundowns has welcomed their newly appointed coach, Miguel Cardoso, who has quickly seized the chance to outline his in-depth tactical and mental philosophies that he hopes to integrate into the club.

The Brazilians have made significant changes within the club’s coaching staff. Chairman Thlopie Motsepe and Sporting Director Flemming Burg officially announced the dismissal of Manqoba Mngithi and concurrently introduced Cardoso as his replacement.

Alongside the Portuguese coach, the two Sundowns executives participated in a media briefing at Chloorkop.

Cardoso, bringing a wealth of experience in African football, takes over from Mngqithi after a 10-month tenure at Moroccan club Esperance De Tunis, which contributed to Downs’s exit in the previous season’s CAF Champions League semi-finals.

Reflecting on his familiarity with Sundowns, the coach mentioned, “Naturally, I was already familiar with the team. We had to conduct a thorough study last year in preparation for our two semi-final matches in the Champions League. It was through this detailed analysis that we were able to tackle the challenges we faced, which is part of a coach’s responsibility—to remain well-informed about the top teams in Africa.”

The former Celta Vigo manager indicated that implementing his coaching philosophy would commence with assessing the players available to him—a process he has already begun while sharing his initial insights.

“We needed to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the team and the players, and it’s evident that the players we have are technically skilled and resonate with the style of a coach aiming to dominate matches. Having talented players is crucial,” Cardoso stressed.

On the subject of playing style, Cardoso expressed ideas that may be well-received by some Masandawana fans, emphasizing the importance of purposeful ball movement—potentially a nod to former coach Rulani Mokwena’s strategies.

Moreover, he underscored the importance of teamwork to fulfill his ambitions on the pitch, stressing that under his leadership, no individual will outweigh the team.

“We must excel in our defensive recovery and in our ability to reorganize. This requires unity and commitment because under my management, no player will be more significant than the team—believe me, no one,” asserted the new Downs coach.

The Pretoria club embarks on this new chapter filled with hope after releasing a coach who oversaw only 19 games across all competitions, achieving 13 wins, encountering four losses, and recording two draws. If past performance offers any hint, the new head coach has little room for error.