Cardoso savours Mamelodi Sundowns’ title triumph, hits back at doubters

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso was visibly ecstatic after his team clinched the 2024/25 Betway Premiership title, and he didn’t hold back in addressing those who had questioned his abilities.

The Tshwane giants once again asserted their dominance in South African football, securing their eighth consecutive league title with a  3-0 victory over Chippa United in East London on Wednesday.

Iqraam Rayners opened the scoring, followed by an impressive second-half brace from Arthur Sales.

This victory over Chippa United further cements Mamelodi Sundowns’ remarkable dominance. Their last failure to claim the league title was back in the 2016/2017 season when Bidvest Wits emerged as champions.

With this latest triumph, Mamelodi Sundowns have reached a commanding 70 points, a total that second-placed Orlando Pirates, even with three matches still to play, cannot surpass, as their maximum possible points tally now stands at 67.

Meanwhile, Portuguese tactician Cardoso has now secured consecutive league titles, having triumphed in the Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1 with ES Tunis just last season.

Cardoso, understandably elated, was full of praise for his triumphant squad. He also stated that he knew people had doubts about his coaching ability when he joined Sundowns.

“I know that people were very suspicious when I arrived in this country, I don’t know why,” he said on SuperSport TV. “But I just give love to everybody, I love to be in South Africa, I love to be among you, I love your culture, I love your country. 

“And I love to be part of the Masandawana family that really received me like I was one of them. That gave me a very strong starting point to give the best of me.”