Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has confirmed that
influential utility player Thapelo Morena will miss tonight’s CAF Champions
League quarterfinal first leg against Stade Malien, a loss he attributes to
inadequate support from local football authorities.
The Portuguese tactician has been vocal throughout the week regarding the
PSL’s scheduling of fixtures, arguing that Sundowns are not receiving the
necessary consideration as they juggle domestic commitments with their
continental campaign. His frustrations intensified on Tuesday when Morena
was on the receiving end of a challenge against Orbit College that Cardoso
firmly believes warranted a red card—a decision that never came.
“Thapelo Morena will not be available for this match,” Cardoso confirmed to
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 aspirations 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,” Cardoso
reflected. “We want to proceed and we will do our best in order to proceed.
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
their 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.”
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.”
