Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has confirmed that
experienced utility player Thapelo Morena will be unavailable for tonight’s
CAF Champions League quarterfinal first leg against Stade Malien, in a
setback the Portuguese tactician attributes to a lack of support from local
football authorities.
Cardoso has been vocal this week regarding the PSL’s scheduling of fixtures,
arguing that Sundowns are not receiving adequate consideration as they
juggle domestic commitments with their continental campaign. The frustration
was compounded on Tuesday when Morena fell victim to a challenge against
Orbit College that Cardoso believes warranted a red card—a decision that
never came.
“I don’t know if you saw, but Thapelo Morena will not be available for this
match,” Cardoso told the media at Loftus Stadium on Thursday. “Jayden Adams,
in the match with Sekhukhune United, got a red card in the action that is
exactly the same that happened in the match with Orbit on Morena, and he got
injured. So, we don’t have Thapelo Morena. But that player got nothing; we
continued to play against 11. I don’t think it’s proper for a club like
this, that has such a beautiful attitude to the game itself, to not be
provided conditions to succeed.”
Despite the setback, Sundowns kept their Champions League hopes alive with a
commanding performance against MC Alger in their final group stage
encounter, breathing new life into their quest for a title that has eluded
them since their triumphant 2016 campaign.
“It’s a pleasure to once again be in this round of the competition. We want
to proceed and we will do our best in order to proceed,” Cardoso affirmed.
“We expect two tough matches. I don’t think there is any underrated team or
underdog attitude. We are going to face an opponent that finished first in
the group, where there were important teams like Petro Luanda, Simba and
Esperance Tunis. But we also know very well what we are capable of. We know
what we want to bring to the pitch. It’s important that we are quite loyal
to the plan that has to do with the analysis we did on our opponent.”
Drawing inspiration from their recent continental form, Cardoso concluded,
“I think our last game in the Champions League at home against MC Alger was
a clear example of the will and intensity of the team and the commitment
towards an objective. That’s my appeal to our players: to bring that same
energy onto the pitch.”
