Sundowns warned: ‘Leave emotions in locker room’ — Cardoso eyes strong CAF start

Sundowns

Cape Town – Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has warned his side to stay focused ahead of Saturday’s CAF Champions League Group C opener against FC Saint-Éloi Lupopo, cautioning against what he refers to as possible “gamesmanship” from the Congolese outfit.

The clash will be played at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria.

Cardoso said his players have been reminded to maintain their composure throughout the match. “Any emotion you have that is not proper to play a football match should be left in the locker room … whatever happens inside the pitch will always be managed emotionally in the right way from the players,” he told TimesLive.

The coach added that Sundowns have thoroughly analysed Lupopo and are well aware of the “particularities” of their approach. “We must understand how to play against this team … so that we understand how to exploit their less strong things and how to avoid that they can aggress us with the things … they have as more positive,” Cardoso said.

Midfielder Marcelo Allende echoed the coach’s urgency, pointing to the importance of getting off to a winning start in the group.

“We know … how important this tournament is … starting with the three points is the most important in our minds,” he told SABC News.

Sundowns come into this clash buoyed by their recent form – they eased past Remo Stars 5–1 away in the preliminary rounds. But they are also wary of Lupopo, who made headlines by eliminating Orlando Pirates in dramatic fashion, and whose tactics were heavily scrutinised.

Former Sundowns captain Thabo Nthethe believes his old side can handle the pressure.

“It’s going to be a tough encounter … but I definitely know that they will do their homework … to kick things off positively … because they aim to go one better than the final from last season, IOL quoted him as saying.

For Cardoso, the lesson of past group stage mistakes resonates: “We remember very well what happened last year … how that hunted a little bit the team throughout all the group stage,” he said, referencing a disappointing start that undermined their campaign.

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Compiled by Lisabeal Nqamqhele

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