The Bafana Bafana skipper produced a Man of the Match performance as Sundowns secured a 2-0 victory over their KZN opponents at Loftus Stadium on Wednesday night, moving level on points with Betway Premiership champions Orlando Pirates.

Cardoso expressed surprise that Williams had already come under scrutiny this season despite his obvious quality. 

"Look, I think any criticism on Rowen Williams must be done with a lot of respect and very easy. We are speaking about a player that his career speaks for him, his awards speak for him, what he did last year in the final of the Champions League speaks for him,” Cardoso said.

“What he did for the country speaks for him, so, whatever is told regarding Rowen must be told with a lot of caution because at any moment people have to put in the pocket whatever they have to say and today Rowen again showed that he's a high level qualified goalkeeper. 

“Also when the teams are settling down, also the goalkeepers need to settle down. No one made the right analysis on that, some of the goals that we scored on the way up until today, they came from individual mistakes and not even really team behaviour mistakes and what is important is a level of commitment that we have between all of us so that we can correct them. 

“That is also the word that I gave in the changeroom, not only praise him by the match that he did it's completely valid to receive that Man of the Match because he had some quality interventions not only in the way that he defended but mostly how he led the team throughout the match in a very positive ambience, in a very positive attitude."

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The Sundowns coach added that Williams also appears to thrive under pressure.

"The way he connected the game for us, allowing us to play from the back under pressure. So, a lot of beautiful things, Rowen knows the support he has from the coach and he will always have from the coach,” the coach added. 

“He's also very strong on dealing with pressure, very, very strong and usually his best performances come in the moment of higher pressure. 

“I remember last year and also in the Champions League final there was a period where there was some criticism and he appeared in the level he appeared to give us that save in the penalty that probably obviously put ourselves in the capacity to have that star in our shirt."