Cardoso eyes “Right Story” as Sundowns brace for Group C challenge

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso says his team is fully prepared for the challenge posed by Saint-Éloi Lupopo as they open their TotalEnergies CAF Champions League Group C campaign.

With the first match taking place at home in Tshwane on Saturday afternoon, Cardoso emphasised the importance of setting the tone early and ensuring that Sundowns avoid the pitfalls of previous seasons.

He explained that every TotalEnergies CAF Champions League match carries its own narrative, and it will be up to Sundowns to ensure that the opening chapter of their group-stage journey is a positive one.

“First match of the Group Stage, obviously every match will have a story, but we have to write the right one on this one. First home match, a good start is important, so we will work hard and we've been working very hard since we finished the last match towards arriving tomorrow on the best conditions, on the best moment possible,” Cardoso said.

The coach added that they have carefully analysed Saint-Éloi Lupopo and understand the unique challenge they present. “Most of all, we must understand how to play against this team. It has its particularities, its way of playing, its own characteristics, so that we understand how to exploit their less strong things and how to avoid that they can aggress us with the things that they have as more positive.”

Cardoso also reflected on the lessons learned from last season, when Sundowns failed to win their opening home fixture against Maniema Union - an early setback that lingered throughout their group-stage campaign.

“We remember very well what happened last year on the first game of the group stage where Mamelodi Sundowns was not able to beat Maniema at home. And from there, how that hunted a little bit the team throughout all the group stage.”

Determined not to repeat that experience, he stressed the importance of starting with intensity and control from the very first whistle.

“We want to make a good start. A good start is on the whistle of the referee and the players that are available and that can start that match will be, for sure, very, very strong and very powerful on going and pursuing the result we want to get.”

Kick-Off at Loftus Stadium in Saturday is at 15h00 Local Time (13h00 GMT).