Mamelodi Sundowns’ Miguel Cardoso Acknowledges Club’s Need for Adaptation at Club World Cup

South African football powerhouse Mamelodi Sundowns, a team renowned for their mastery of possession, might find their time on the ball significantly curtailed at the upcoming Club World Cup, according to coach Miguel Cardoso.

The Pretoria side is considered underdogs in Group F, where Fluminense and Borussia Dortmund are favoured to progress to the knockout stages in the United States, potentially leaving Sundowns and South Korean club Ulsan behind.

“We have grown accustomed to controlling matches in the South African league,” remarked the 53-year-old Portuguese tactician, whose team recently clinched the national championship for the eighth consecutive time.

“Our possession figures can soar as high as 70 per cent, sometimes even more,” he shared with South African media before travelling to North America with a squad of 26 players.

“Now we need to prepare ourselves mentally to cope with scenarios where our opponents will dominate possession. I doubt we will be able to dictate games as we typically do in South Africa.”

Cardoso identified Dortmund as a side that will provide a different kind of challenge compared to the opposition Sundowns typically face at home and within Africa.

“Dortmund employ a very high-tempo, aggressive style, which is characteristic of German football,” said the coach, who has extensive coaching experience in Portugal, Ukraine, France, Spain, and Greece.

Cardoso made his move to Africa in 2024, winning the Tunisian league title with Esperance and guiding them to the CAF Champions League final, where they were defeated by Egypt’s Al Ahly.

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Mamelodi Sundowns, accompanied by Esperance, Al Ahly, and Moroccan team Wydad Casablanca, represent Africa at the newly expanded 32-team Club World Cup commencing June 14.

After being dismissed by Esperance last year due to poor domestic performance, Cardoso was appointed by Sundowns following their decision to part ways with local coach Manqoba Mngqithi after a loss to underdogs Magesi in a knockout final.

While Cardoso led Sundowns to a league title, hopes for a South African double were dashed when they faced an unexpected defeat to Kaizer Chiefs in the FA Cup semi-finals.

An even greater setback occurred in the Champions League, where Sundowns eliminated Esperance and Al Ahly, only to be beaten in the final by Pyramids, an Egyptian club making just their second appearance in the competition.

“The notion that African clubs lack organisation, particularly defensively, is a myth,” Cardoso insists.

However, a number of defensive errors against Pyramids in both legs cost Sundowns a chance to secure a second Champions League title, having previously won in 2016.

Poor marking allowed Pyramids to equalise in injury time in Pretoria, and a weak clearance and more defensive lapses led to a second-leg defeat of 2-1.

For the Club World Cup, Cardoso has selected a squad featuring 20 South Africans, two Brazilians, a Chilean, a Ugandan, a Zimbabwean, and a Namibian.

Reserve goalie Denis Onyango, from Uganda, is the oldest at 40, while South African winger Kutlwano Letlhaku is the youngest at 19.

Starting goalkeeper Ronwen Williams made headlines by saving four penalties during a shootout against Cape Verde in the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals.

Khuliso Mudau is a skilled full-back, Teboho Mokoena is an aggressive midfielder with a powerful shot, and Brazilian forward Lucas Ribeiro was the South African league’s top scorer last season, netting 16 goals.

However, much of South Africa’s focus at the Club World Cup will be on midfielder Themba Zwane, who did not play in the Champions League final despite being a key player.

Former Sundowns star Joel Masilela expressed anger at Zwane’s omission.

“He is our Lionel Messi and should have either started or come off the bench,” Masilela stated.

“Cardoso’s decision cost us the Champions League title.”