Mamelodi Sundowns’ Miguel Cardoso reveals his ideal captain: 'I like to have captains that have the profile to help the coach lead the team, in terms of leadership'

Miguel Cardoso has shared his thoughts on selecting the right captain for Mamelodi Sundowns.

He highlighted that his squad is filled with players who have demonstrated leadership qualities at their previous clubs.

Currently, Ronwen Williams, the Bafana Bafana number one, is the captain, stepping in while Themba Zwane recovers from injury.

Speaking at a press conference, Cardoso emphasized the importance of having a captain who assists the coach by steering the team in the right direction on and off the pitch.

He respects his players' privacy and believes the captain's character and attitude should positively impact the squad.

Cardoso values leadership from all players, not just the captain, as part of fostering a collective team spirit.

He revealed that players like Zwane remain involved with the group despite being sidelined, keeping the morale high.

The Portuguese's remarks underline his approach to building a unified and motivated team atmosphere.

“I like to have captains that have the profile to help the coach lead the team, in terms of leadership, in terms of helping teams inside the pitch regarding behaviors, and I’m speaking about normal behaviors of players but on the relation of themselves, the opponents and referees,” Cardoso said.

“But also the behaviors we want the team to have consistently. I like also that every player has the attitude of a captain, you understand what I mean? Everybody takes the responsibility on their hands so that the captain is just one more… and not the captain itself.

“I believe the players can do it if you work on a collective attitude because when there’s an intervention from the captain or one of the captains – Themba, Denis, or Ronza or Teboho, it’s because they want to shape the character of the group.

“So if their character is shaped, they don’t need to intervene. So it means that everyone can have the right attitude. And sometimes you just highlight the approach on a certain moment and then there are tasks natural from a captain,” explained the Portuguese mentor.

“Even some things I don’t know, I don’t enter the players’ locker room, I respect their privacy, but it’s been very simple so far to address the squad and captain Themba keeps close, even today we had the [injured] Mabena, Zwane because we welcomed a young boy [before training],” he continued.

“He’s a big fan of Ronza and unfortunately he’s suffering from cancer, and we invited him to be among us, to pray at the beginning of the session among us in training, so we could give him extra energy to fight this disease.

“And so we have the captains with us always, and the injured players with us and I see the joy from everyone, Themba was dancing in the middle before we prayed. They also made me dance [when I arrived], I’m not that kind of guy but I tried my best, I promised them if we win on Sunday I will dance again for them.”

Ronwen Williams will likely continue as captain given his strong leadership for both Sundowns and the South African national team.

His consistency and confidence in this role have been pivotal for the squad.

Cardoso’s tenure requires a strong start, and Sunday’s match provides the perfect opportunity to deliver a winning impression.

Securing victory will not only boost the team but also resonate with Sundowns' passionate supporters.

Winning over the Yellow Nation would mark a significant first step in his Sundowns journey.

The upcoming match against Raja Casablanca is a must-win game for Miguel Cardoso’s men.

Victory will strengthen Sundowns' chances of qualifying for the knockout stage.

Facing the formidable Moroccan side presents a great challenge but also an excellent opportunity to make a bold statement.

The clash promises high stakes and thrilling football, befitting two Caf Champions League contenders.

Cardoso’s journey with Sundowns could receive a massive boost with a decisive win on Sunday.