Mamelodi Sundowns boss pleads for fixture relief ahead of CAF Champions League push

The Portuguese tactician hinted that Sundowns lacked this kind of assistance last season yet still managed to reach the final of Africa’s premier club competition.

With the group stage draw set for Monday in Johannesburg, Cardoso says he hopes for some relief from the PSL – particularly when it comes to the scheduling of midweek fixtures.

"Sundowns had a lot of matches ahead, so we play matches in the middle of the week consistently because we believe we could go far in the Champions League as we did last year,” Cardoso said. 

“We wanted to have the weeks of the Champions League full, so that we don't judge our players and I would remind everybody that when there's a South African team playing in the Champions League, it's not only representing the club or the badge that we have on the jersey but South African football. 

“It's important that everybody knows that. When we try to clean the weeks from matches so that we can play Champions League on the right stages and be on the path to compete with the biggest teams because the biggest teams in Africa, they don't play in the middle of the week, never because their championship is not like that.

“I'd like you to remember that I was on that side one year ago when I played the final of Esperance. We didn't ask to change matches because the calendar is done that the teams don't play in the middle of the week because they want the Tunisian football to take the Champions League seriously and everybody supporting the team that is there."

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Cardoso revealed Sundowns tried to bring games forward to ease their schedule, but no Betway Premiership rival agreed to face them on November 8. 

"What I mean is last year and this year, we pushed some matches back in order to clean the fixtures, with our expectations of going far in the Champions League as we are trying to go through the group stages, we can fight for the best position in the Champions League<’ the coach explained. 

“Anyway, I go directly to what you said and I wanted to make this comment because, for example, we are trying to play a match next weekend. So, after Pirates [Orlando], we play on Wednesday again TS Galaxy and we are going team by team in the PSL to see who can accept to play against us on Sunday. But already we tried four [teams] and no one wants to play."