Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has urged the club’s supporters to get behind his side as they prepare to face Al Hilal again in the CAF Champions League on Friday.
Sections of the crowd turned on Cardoso and Brazilians sporting director Flemming Berg after the 2-2 draw with the Blue Wave at Loftus Versfeld last weekend, with chants of ‘Pitso! Pitso!’ ringing around the stadium.
Pitso Mosimane has been heavily linked with a return to Chloorkop and the Yellow Nation is seemingly happy to welcome him back after losing patience with the Portuguese.
Cardoso’s style of play hasn’t gone down well with many fans despite winning the Betway Premiership title in his first season at Masandawana, who are two points clear of Kaizer Chiefs at the summit after 15 games this term.
Sundowns also top Group C on goal difference ahead of Al Hilal and the continental clash at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, Rwanda is crucial as it could go a long way to deciding who advances as winners.
Cardoso wants unity between the team and the fans, saying: “What I want is to celebrate with them (Yellow Nation) and make them understand that I’m one of them.
“I’m here to help the club and the team but mostly, I want to be excited and against Sekhukhune, the fans were fantastic and we felt the energy inside the stadium.”
The 53-year-old has emphasised the importance of the players remaining committed to the cause as he looks to go one better than 2024-25 when Bafana Ba Style were eliminated in the semi-finals.
“We just need to be committed in good moments and the ones that are not so good,” Cardoso added.
“We must not lose the focus on the direction that we have to travel together so that we can arrive in the end and have points to allow us to be in a position you want to be.”
