After a disheartening performance in a goalless draw against Kaizer Chiefs, Sundowns fans erupted with chants of “Cardoso must go!” a harsh departure from the customary song and dance shared with the players.
It has become somewhat of a ritual for the Masandawana faithful cheers the team when even the chips are down, with relentless beating of the drum echoed by player-name chants, and vibrating claps. This, like a marriage-like commitment of through thick and thin – is a tradition that has never been broken, until last month.
Sundowns squad and staff stood stunned, faces etched with disbelief, before slowly climbing over the advertising boards and retreating in silence.
Under Cardoso’s leadership, Sundowns have shed the aura of invincibility that defined them for the better part of a decade. The once unstoppable juggernaut now appears vulnerable, and the backlash has been relentless.
Cardoso’s controversial decision to bench club captain and seasoned campaigner Themba Zwane in both legs of the Caf Champions League final – a gamble that backfired as they fell short against Pyramids.
It’s not just the team selections raising eyebrows. Cardoso’s substitutions are often bewildering, fueling a growing narrative that he has drained the team of its signature flair. The elegant, almost poetic style of ‘piano and shoe-shine’ football that Sundowns are famous for seems to be fading into memory under his watch.
The mounting pressure is justified. Sundowns have set an extraordinary standard over the last decade, lifting the 2016 Caf Champions League trophy, dominating league campaigns, claiming the Caf Super Cup and African Football League titles, and recently represented the PSL in the Fifa Club World Cup stage, including another recent Champions League final appearance.
The man in the hot seat understands the weight of expectation that comes with leading such a storied club. Masandawana legend Teko Modise voices sympathy for Cardoso, acknowledging that anyone would feel the immense pressure that now bears down on him.
“This season things have not started well, they are chasing Sekhukhune and Kaizer Chiefs. But it is a season of learning as well because playing in the Fifa Club World Cup has actually had a toll on the players, as much as it was a big thing and the best football tournament to be part of. It really hammered the preparation for the off season,” Modise told Hollywoodbets Sports Blog.
“When all the teams had an opportunity to have an off-season, Sundowns had none. It is basically catching up and it is one of those seasons that are a learning curve for Sundowns.
“You look at the pressure that coach Cardoso has, you can really say that maybe the pressure is justifiable because football is one of those situations where fans are always going to talk and you are always going to compare yourself to your rivals, and your rivals are Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates.
Sundowns suffered the disappointment of bowing out of the MTN8 at the hands of rivals Pirates, who have always had Downs number in cup competitions.
In October 2022, Pirates inflicted pain on Downs in the same competition, embarrassing them 3-0 in their own backyard – a result sent shivers up the spine of Sundowns board and necessitated a coaching reshuffle. Rulani Mokwena and Manqoba Mngqithi were co-head coaches while Steve Komphela was the senior coach. After that result, Mokwena was elevated to a sole head coach role, Mngqithi demoted to Komphela’s position while Komphela was named the first team coach.
Pirates’ dominance over Sundowns continued. In the 2023/24 season, the Buccaneers beat Sundowns in two cup finals in almost the same term – the MTN8 and Nedbank Cup. This season, Sundowns are already out of the MTN8.
“For the fact that you got knocked out in the MTN8, the pressure will be there, and not just for Cardoso, but for any coach who will come to Sundowns because of how the team has been dominant in the last couple of years over a decade or so and how demanding the fans and the club is.
“But we have a coach who understands and knows what pressure is. In the last two seasons, he has been in the Caf Champions League final twice with two different teams. He understands what pressure is.
“That’s nothing new for him but I also believe that Sundowns fans are so used to winning that, when they don’t, it is like a funeral, and justifiably so because Sundowns have worked hard to get to a position where they dominate.
“The fans, players, and coaches are demanding and there is a lot that goes into winning a football match at Sundowns. For the fact that you got knocked out the MTN8, that is when you can justify that it is justifiable,” said the Hollywoodbets Brand Ambassador.