Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso remained upbeat despite his side’s Carling Knockout round of 16 elimination at the hands of Marumo Gallants on Saturday.
After a goalless draw through extra time, the match was decided by a tense penalty shootout, where Gallants edged Sundowns 7-6 in sudden death.
Goalkeeper Washington Arubi emerged as the match-winner, pulling off three crucial saves to seal the upset.
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The defeat marks another setback for the Brazilians, who were also knocked out of the MTN8 in the semi-finals by Orlando Pirates. Nevertheless, Cardoso chose to focus on the positives, praising his squad’s effort and resilience.
The Portuguese tactician has come under pressure from fans this season as a result of their inconsistent performances, although they currrently sit on top of the Betway Premiership standings after 10 games.
Speaking after the game, the head coach said in the Citizen: “The team is working with a big commitment and it was clear that today the players fought until the last minute.
“The players were all together and showed a lot of positive energy.
“That gives us a lot of good and positive things regarding the future. That is because when there’s such a will to do things and commitment from the group, I think things will happen (improve) naturally.”
Sundowns resume competitive duties when they face Remo Stars in the CAF Champions League Second preliminary round after the international break – where they will have eight players on duty for Bafana.