Pretoria – Despite sitting atop the Betway Premiership standings, Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso believes his team’s success will depend less on points and more on mental resilience as the season unfolds.
The Brazilians, who edged TS Galaxy 1–0 at Loftus Versfeld on Wednesday night, extended their lead to three points ahead of second-placed Orlando Pirates. Yet, Cardoso says the team’s performances have not matched their own high standards.
“Of course, I’m not happy with the points we have at the moment,” he admitted. “We lost points in matches that we should have won. No one inside Mamelodi Sundowns is happy, but that doesn’t mean we don’t understand why that is.”
Cardoso attributed the slow start to the team’s congested early schedule, which included participation in the Club World Cup. The demanding fixture list left little time for proper preparation and recovery.
“Our start was not as normal as it should have been because we didn’t have time to prepare,” he explained. “But I don’t want to sound like I’m making excuses, it’s just part of the reality we faced.”
The Portuguese tactician emphasized that his main focus now is to build psychological strength within the squad as they aim to defend their domestic dominance and challenge for continental honours.
“We knew from the beginning that the league would be very tough. What we want is to shape our character in a way that’s so strong that no one can destroy it,” he said.
Sundowns will resume action after the international break when they host Democratic Republic of Congo’s Saint-Eloi Lupopo in their CAF Champions League group-stage opener, a match Cardoso sees as another test of his side’s mentality and depth.
While fans may crave flair and high-scoring victories, Cardoso insists that true champions are forged through resilience, a quality he believes will define Sundowns’ campaign both at home and across Africa.
caption: Miguel Cardoso of Mamelodi Sundowns during the Betway Premiership 2025/26 Mamelodi Sundowns Press Conference at Chloorkop on 30 October 2025
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