Miguel Cardoso likens Pirates MTN8 showdown to CAFCL clashes

10.10.26 12:00 MTN 8 Cup South Africa

Orlando Pirates

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Mamelodi Sundowns FC

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Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has likened the MTN8 final against Orlando Pirates at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday to a CAF Champions League fixture.

The Brazilians are searching for their first domestic cup title since the 2021/22 campaign, while the Buccaneers are gunning for an unprecedented fifth consecutive top eight crown.

Sundowns will be itching to get one over Pirates, having succumbed to defeat at the hands of the Sea Robbers in the MTN8 final in the 2023/24 season, before suffering the same fate in the semi-final last term.

Cardoso, who will be partaking in his first domestic cup final since taking over the hotseat at Chloorkop, expressed a strong desire to lift the trophy and vows his troops will leave no stone unturned in gearing up for the humdinger.

“We know the responsibility of a match like this, we don't take nothing on that, we want to do well. For myself or the coaching staff, we have never played a cup final, so obviously it's an important moment also for us,” said the Downs mentor.

"But it's just the next match, we will play on Tuesday, immediately after we will play already the qualifiers for the Champions League. And those for sure are objectives that we have to put in front regarding the preparations and the risk.

"For example, [risk] on using players that are not 100%. But when we go for this match we'll go with full intention, full commitment, obviously we understand what's at stake and we would obviously like to continue the season in the best way.

"We give nothing for granted, we are very suspicious on everything - it means that we have to prepare ourselves on the details.

While the Portuguese tactician is hell-bent on ending the club's domestic cup drought, he acknowledges that Piping Pirates won't be a walk in the park, stating that the match will resemble a continental clash.

“It will be a high level match in the same level of a Champions League match, absolutely, because Orlando Pirates is a high-level team also, full of quality players, but it will just be one more match,” Cardoso added.

"What will speak for us will be the end of the season, then we'll have to make a balance because throughout the season there are so many challenges that we'll have to approach in a different way considering obviously doing well in the end and as better as we can.

Having won the Betway Premiership, the CAF Champions League, and the FIFA African-Asian-Pacific Cup, it remains to be seen whether Cardoso can guide Sundowns to MTN8 glory at the expense of Pirates.

Hlayisani Magoro

Editorfr, en

Football journalist from South Africa covering African football news, exclusive stories and key events while sharing insights with passionate fans of the game.

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