MATSHELANE MAMABOLO
CHLOORKOP
IN WHAT could be termed a classic case of 'if they beat you, recruit them', Mamelodi Sundowns have gone and appointed the man who dashed their CAF Champions League dream last campaign.
The Brazilians announced this afternoon that they have hired Miguel Cardoso as their new coach. The 52-year-old Portuguese was in charge of Tunisian giants Esperance last season, when they knocked Sundowns out of the continent's premier club knockout competition at the semifianl stage.
The bald-headed Cardoso masterminded Esperance' aggregate 2-0 victory over a Sundowns side coached by Rulani Mokwena, the Tunisians winning 1-0 both home and away. He comes to join Sundowns as a replacement for Manqoba Mngqithi, who had been in charge but never officially announced as the coach.
Mngqithi and assistants Romain Folz and Wendell Robinson have been let go, while Steve Komphela and Kennedy Mweeme remain the technical team.
Club chairman Hlopi Motsepe explained that the decision to make the technical changes was precipitated by their desire to strive to be the best and achieve set targets.
"We are an ambitious club but our team has struggled to match that type of ambition. It has failed to reach the high targets and our supporters deserve high quality and standards. The team was not reaching the high standards and rather than let the situation deteriorate, we decided to rather take this decision."
Cardoso expressed delight at having joined the club.
"I am pleased to be the head coach of Sundowns, a club with a rich culture that will help me grow a lot. It is a club with 54 years, a club with a big heritage and a huge identity and I will try to make them happy and represent them in the best way."
Motsepe would not reveal the duration of Cardoso's contract with the club.