Miguel Cardoso, the coach of Mamelodi Sundowns, has expressed his commitment to addressing the team’s disciplinary issues following a 5-2 victory over amateur side Sibanye Golden Stars in the Nedbank Cup last 32 match.
During the game, there was an incident where Bathusi Aubaas displayed violent conduct by elbowing Boeletsang Rankali in the 76th minute, resulting in a red card being shown to Aubaas. This was not the first time Aubaas had been sent off, as he had also received a red card in a previous CAF Champions League match against Raja Casablanca. This incident adds to the total of five red cards handed out to Sundowns players under Cardoso’s leadership.
Cardoso emphasized the importance of professionalism on the pitch, stating, “A professional footballer should always hold themselves back whatever is happening inside the pitch.” He acknowledged that there may have been provocation towards Aubaas but reiterated that such behavior is unacceptable.
Despite the team’s disciplinary record on the field, Cardoso defended the players’ discipline off the pitch, stating, “There’s no discipline issue here, so don’t make that mistake.” He clarified that while mistakes leading to red cards are concerning, they should not be equated with overall ill-discipline within the team.
In the match against Sibanye Golden Stars, Tashreeq Matthews scored a brace in the first half, with Malibongwe Khoza also finding the back of the net early on. Despite a brief setback with two quick goals from the opposition in the second half, Sundowns secured the victory with late goals from Arthur Sales and Kobamelo Kodisang.
Moving forward, Cardoso emphasized the need to address and rectify the team’s disciplinary issues to ensure a focus on professionalism and sportsmanship on the pitch. The coach remains dedicated to guiding the team towards success in future matches while maintaining high standards of behavior and discipline.
