Former Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Bennett Mnguni has called for
stability at the club, urging supporters to back head coach Miguel Cardoso
despite growing pressure from a section of the fanbase.
In an exclusive interview with PSLSA, Mnguni argued that sacking the coach
mid-season would be counterproductive and could collapse the team’s
structure.
“We cannot change the coach now. If we do, the whole system collapses,”
Mnguni stated. “We should rather keep him until the end of the season.
Supporters only see match days; we don’t see what the coach sees on the
training field. We can only judge by the players’ performances.”
Mnguni emphasized that success requires a unified effort from coaches,
players, and supporters, suggesting a current “division” is harming the
team’s confidence.
“It looks like there is a division now. The players are doing their job, the
coach is doing his, and the supporters must do theirs—which is to support,”
he said. “Leave the decisions to the management. They work with the team 24
hours a day and know the challenges they face.”
He appealed to fans to move beyond blaming the coach as the “easy solution”
when results dip.
“When we were winning, everyone was happy. Now that we are losing, fingers
are pointed. Despite what’s happening, let’s support them, and let
management handle it.”
Mnguni warned that bringing in a new coach now would be especially difficult
with a recently assembled squad, as any newcomer would need time to adapt.
“Whoever comes in would have to start afresh. The only positive would be if
they already know our system and players, but with new players in the squad,
it’s not the right time. Let’s finish the season, then see next year.”
When asked about the club’s objectives after early exits from the MTN 8 and
Carling Knockout, Mnguni reaffirmed Sundowns’ demanding standards.
“At Sundowns, we need to win everything to say we’ve achieved. We have the
quality players for that—when they sign, the mandate is to win.”
Sundowns currently sit second in the Betway Premiership with 26 points from
13 games, two points behind leaders Orlando Pirates, who have a game in
hand.
