Cardoso welcomes fresh Mohafe challenge after Polokwane struggles

Mohafe has taken over at Marumo Gallants after three years at Polokwane City, where he built a formidable outfit that regularly gave Sundowns a tough time – particularly when the Brazilians travelled to Limpopo.

Speaking ahead of tonight’s Betway Premiership clash at Loftus Stadium, Cardoso is still haunted by Sundowns’ most recent trip to face Mohafe’s former side. 

"First of all Marumo had and has players that are very interesting, second is true, the coach in the past made a difficult life for Sundowns. I also remember that most of the matches were played in the second stadium in Polokwane,” Cardoso said. 

“It was like a strategy to take Sundowns there to not allow the game to be played in the way it has to be played, that is something that I also want to praise because when we went to play TS Galaxy it was an appeal to change the game to a smaller stadium and the league did not allow that to happen. 

“And that is also a step forward, we just need to be consistent on that attitude. Best players or good matches should be played on the best pitches. That's how South Africa will develop because that's what we praised when we saw the AFCON. 

“We see the World Cup, we see the best matches in the Champions League. It's teams providing conditions so that the football is well played."

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Cardoso, who has been advocating for state of the art pitches in the PSL, emphasised that games have their own level of difficulty regardless of the location. 

"We had a terrible, difficult match when we played Galaxy in a big stadium and the stadium was fantastic, the pitch was good. So, it's not because of the pitch that teams can, it's just a mental situation. It's just the way that teams have to commit themselves,” the coach added. 

“We're developing at a high level, so yeah, good challenge to face the coach again. Let's hope we can succeed but more than hoping, let's work for it to happen because hope will bring nothing but hope. It can help, we'll pray for that also but we also need to play our part."