Mamelodi Sundowns braced for anything against fiery St Eloi Lupopo

The Congolese side arrive with a reputation that precedes them, having knocked Orlando Pirates out in the preliminary round – a tie that has led to disciplinary action against defender Mukoko Amale and coach Guy Bukasa. 

Opening their campaign at home, Cardoso is focused on keeping his team level-headed and unfazed by any volatility that Lupopo may try to spark. 

"We try always, and I make a big effort to make players understand that any emotion that you may feel that is not proper to play a football match should be left in the locker room," said Cardoso.

"And whatever happens inside the pitch will always be managed emotionally in the right way by the players – you remember when we played at home against Esperance last year, there was a clash between the players and how I was so aggressive.

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"I always want my players to keep their minds and focus on their behaviour, and some emotions that are negative to allow the player to get himself on that path, myself included.

"That's why sometimes when things happen that have nothing to do with the game, I stay [measured] because it can touch my emotions, and I'm also human being, but we need to know where we are, what the plan was, what's happening on the pitch and how can we help.

"Should we correct something, what are we going to say at half-time, which images can we show, should we change the plan, or which players can come in and give something more? If our minds don't stay focussed on this, for sure we cannot make good decisions."