Miguel Cardoso Unbothered by History Ahead of Sundowns vs. Pirates Clash
Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has emphasized that past results between his side and Orlando Pirates hold no relevance as the two teams prepare to face off in a highly anticipated Betway Premiership match on Saturday at Loftus Versfeld Stadium.
The encounter, set to kick off at 15:30, promises to be a high-stakes showdown, with Pirates aiming to halt Sundowns’ march toward their eighth consecutive league title. While the Buccaneers will look to build on their recent success against Sundowns—including victories in the 2023 MTN8 final and the 2024 Nedbank Cup—Cardoso is focused solely on the present.
“I focus mainly on our team. I really don’t care what happened in the past,” Cardoso said during a pre-match press conference. “It is a new page. It is different teams. Mostly, our team is basically different.”
Cardoso stressed that the focus for Sundowns lies in executing their game plan effectively and not dwelling on previous meetings.
“What matters is how we want to approach the game, which is the most important message that we need to pass to our players,” he added. “There are always details that we need to take into consideration, and we will do it. But this is just another match of football. Whatever happens, it’s just another match and three points.”
Despite Cardoso’s composed approach, the stakes are undeniably high. Pirates have everything to prove as they seek to be the team that finally ends Sundowns’ dominance in the league. However, Cardoso remains grounded, emphasizing that the result won’t determine the league’s outcome.
“This match doesn’t close or open the championship,” he stated. “There will be two different teams that have their qualities and will want to win for sure. That is the most interesting aspect of the game.”
Cardoso also expressed hope for a thrilling spectacle that will showcase South African football to the world.
“I hope that we indeed get to have a good football match that highlights South Africa to the world. I hope the fans will be satisfied by having a wonderful game. As people say, let the best one win—and I hope the best one will be Mamelodi Sundowns,” he concluded.
As the two giants of South African football prepare to clash, fans can expect an intense and entertaining contest. For Sundowns, it’s a chance to maintain their unbeaten run in the league, while Pirates will aim to prove their mettle against the reigning champions.
