Pretoria – Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso says experience within the squad will guide the South African champions through a demanding second half of the season shaped by the Africa Cup of Nations and a congested domestic calendar.
Sundowns, one of the region’s most followed clubs including among football fans in Eswatini, are preparing for a period where several senior players will leave for national team duty at AFCON, set to get underway in Morocco this weekend. The absence of key personnel comes as the Betway Premiership title race tightens and continental commitments continue.
Speaking ahead of the restart, Cardoso dismissed any sense of urgency or panic around the situation, pointing to the depth and maturity built into the Tshwane side over several seasons.
“This is an experienced club, experienced team, experienced players with an experienced coach,” Cardoso said, adding that calm decision making would shape how the team navigates the coming weeks.
The defending league champions are chasing a record ninth successive Premiership title while still competing in the CAF Champions League and the Nedbank Cup. Balancing domestic and continental football during an AFCON year has often proved challenging for clubs in the PSL, with momentum frequently disrupted by the mid season international tournament.
Cardoso said his technical team would not deviate from its approach, opting instead for careful rotation and match by match planning.
“We prepare for the next match, we focus on the following one, always understanding who is in the best conditions to start a match,” he said.
Sundowns are expected to make use of the January transfer window to strengthen their squad before regrouping fully in early January once players return from international duty. The Premiership resumes in the third week of January after the conclusion of AFCON.
The continental tournament begins on Sunday in Morocco, with the hosts opening against Comoros. Bafana Bafana are scheduled to start their campaign a day later against Angola.
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