Emotional Cardoso dedicates Sundowns triumph to loyal fans

An emotional Miguel Cardoso paid tribute to the unwavering support of the Mamelodi Sundowns faithful after guiding the club to their second TotalEnergies CAF Champions League title in Rabat on Sunday.

Sundowns secured continental glory with a 2-1 aggregate victory over AS FAR, bringing an end to years of frustration for both the club and Cardoso himself.

The triumph carried extra significance for the Portuguese tactician, who was appearing in his third consecutive TotalEnergies CAF Champions League final.

Cardoso previously suffered heartbreak as coach of Espérance de Tunis against Al Ahly two seasons ago, before falling short again with Sundowns against Pyramids FC last season.

This time, however, he finally reached the summit of African club football and immediately dedicated the achievement to the supporters who stood by the team throughout their difficult journey in a season.

“I dedicate this trophy to the fans who kept believing in us. The fans who kept pushing us, they really deserve this trophy,” said an emotional Cardoso after the final whistle.

“It has been hard for my players and all the credit goes to them. I praise them for the work they have done. It has not been easy for them and for me.”

The Sundowns coach also reserved special praise for the travelling supporters who made the journey to Rabat to rally behind the South African champions on one of the biggest nights in the club’s history.

“I want to thank the fans who have travelled here. They have been really great and we appreciate their presence and sacrifice. The boys understood the assignment. Matches like these have high emotions and the boys did very well,” he added.

Cardoso’s triumph marks a major milestone in his coaching career, ending successive final disappointments while cementing Sundowns’ status among the continent’s elite clubs.