Brayan Leon Credits Miguel Cardoso for Mamelodi Sundowns Champions League Success

Mamelodi Sundowns striker Brayan Leon has praised coach Miguel Cardoso for the role he played in helping the club achieve African Champions League success. Leon joined the Brazilians in January last season and quickly established himself in a team competing for major domestic and continental honours. His arrival came during an important stage of the campaign, yet he adapted quickly and contributed to Sundowns’ pursuit of the biggest prize in African club football. Ahead of this weekend’s FIFA Intercontinental Cup fixture against Al Ahli, the Colombian forward has reflected on his experience at the club and the influence of Cardoso. Leon believes the Portuguese coach’s knowledge of African football and his relationship with the players have been important factors behind Sundowns’ success.

Leon arrived at Sundowns during the middle of the season and immediately faced the pressure that comes with joining one of Africa’s leading clubs. The striker had to adapt to a new country, a new league and a squad containing several established international players. Despite those challenges, he quickly settled into the team and played an important role as Sundowns pursued continental glory. His first months in South Africa ultimately ended with the club lifting the African Champions League trophy for the second time in its history. Leon considers that achievement the most significant part of his early experience with the Brazilians.

Much of Leon’s praise has been directed towards Cardoso, who he believes has a deep understanding of African football. The striker pointed to the coach’s experience in the Champions League and his previous appearances in the competition’s final as evidence of his ability to compete at the highest level on the continent. Cardoso had previously reached the Champions League final on two occasions before finally winning the competition with Sundowns. Leon believes that experience helped the coach understand what was required to guide the team through a demanding continental campaign. “He’s one of the best coaches on the continent,” Leon said, while describing Cardoso as a coach who understands the game and knows what it takes to achieve success.

The striker also highlighted Cardoso’s approach to player management as one of the qualities that has stood out since his arrival at Sundowns. Leon explained that the coach takes time to speak to players when they are frustrated, struggling with their form or dealing with an injury. That personal approach helped Leon feel supported while he adjusted to his new surroundings. He recalled that Cardoso contacted him when he first arrived to find out how he was settling into South Africa, including his life away from the training ground. For Leon, those conversations demonstrated that the coach was interested in the player as an individual rather than focusing only on what he could contribute on the pitch.

Moving to South Africa represented a major adjustment for Leon, particularly because of the distance between his new home and his previous life. He acknowledged that the cultural differences made the transition challenging at first, but said the quality of the environment at Sundowns helped make the process easier. The striker was also impressed by the standard of the squad, with many players having represented their countries and competed at major international tournaments. He described the club as an organisation that expects to challenge for every available trophy. That winning mentality gave Leon a clear understanding of the expectations from the moment he arrived.

The support from his teammates also played a major role in helping Leon settle into the squad. He said the players welcomed him immediately and quickly understood the way he wanted to play. Leon also communicated openly with his new teammates about the style of football he preferred and the assistance he needed to succeed. Building that understanding was important because he joined the squad at a time when the team already had established patterns and expectations. The striker believes the positive relationship within the squad helped him make an immediate contribution and allowed the team to work towards its goal of winning multiple trophies.

For Leon, however, the African Champions League remained the most important achievement of his first period at Sundowns. He described the competition as the tournament that mattered most because winning it confirmed the club’s status among the leading teams on the continent. The striker arrived with the expectation that Sundowns had to compete for and win the trophy, rather than simply participate in the competition. Completing that objective gave his first season with the club a significant sense of achievement. “I was absolutely over the moon to win the Champions League,” Leon explained, underlining how much the triumph meant to him.

The Champions League success now provides an important foundation as Sundowns prepare to face Al Ahli in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup. The match presents Leon and his teammates with another opportunity to test themselves against a major club from outside Africa. Al Ahli have a squad featuring established international players, meaning Sundowns will need to maintain the standards that helped them succeed in continental competition. Leon’s experience of adapting quickly to Sundowns could also be valuable as the team prepares for another demanding international fixture. The forward will be hoping to contribute once again as the Brazilians look to make their mark on the global stage.

Leon enters the Intercontinental Cup fixture with a strong appreciation for the environment that has helped him develop since moving to South Africa. His comments about Cardoso show that he regards the coach’s tactical knowledge and personal approach as important parts of his successful adaptation. The striker has also embraced the expectations that come with playing for a club that regularly competes for major trophies. His Champions League experience gave him an early taste of success with Sundowns, but the meeting with Al Ahli provides another significant challenge. As the Brazilians prepare for the fixture, Leon will be looking to repay the faith shown in him by Cardoso and the club by producing another important performance on the international stage.