Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso says a lack of success in domestic cup competition in South Africa is something that he is keen to fix as he tries this weekend to rescue his side’s chances in the MTN8.
Cardoso won the Betway Premiership six months in his first season in charge and took Sundowns to a much sought-after African Champions League title last season but has not won any cup silverware at home.
He has had two Nedbank Cup campaigns without success and one each in the MTN8 and Carling Knockout and on Sunday in Umlazi has to engineer a turnaround for his team after they were beaten 1-0 at home by Lamontville Golden Arrows in the first leg of their semifinal tie.
“Regarding (home) cup finals ... obviously, it's something that we are missing. It's really not finals, but victories in domestic cups,” said Cardoso.
“It's obvious, I want to put cups on my CV in South Africa, and we still can.
“But to make this one,” he said of the MTN8, “we need to call back the spirit of a Champions League.
“I’ve told my players that this match should be played like a Champions League qualifying round where they have two matches. Yeah, we didn't we didn't do (in the first leg), but still there's 90 minutes (in the second leg).
“I just hope the team finds that spirit in the right way when we go and take the flight for to go to Golden Arrows. And we can play the second leg in the level that we need to have. But it will be tough, but it's possible that it will be done.”
Cardoso was also quick to defend his players after the surprise loss to Arrows, where Sede Dion scored the first half goal, with some accusations of a lack of desire.
“Sundowns players play always with heart because they know they represent this club and the greatness that is to represent this institution.
“But the question is how much power you put in everything that you do and consistently throughout the match.
“There's more power to put still. It will come. But I think the team was committed and we fought until the end, and that is the character that you need to have. So what we need now is to understand that that character will speak for us in the next match,” Cardoso added.