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Miguel Cardoso, Mamelodi Sundowns, August 2025Backpage
Celine Abrahams

‘Miguel Cardoso’s days are numbered! He has a PhD in fishing, not coaching; Kaizer Chiefs will beat Mamelodi Sundowns on Wednesday and then Masandawana can buy him a one-way ticket out of South Africa’ - Fans

The Brazilians’ head coach took a swipe at Orlando Pirates’ style of play after crashing out of the MTN8 on Saturday.

Mamelodi Sundowns welcomed Orlando Pirates to the Lucas Moripe Stadium for the MTN8 semi-final second leg. Both first and second leg ties ended deadlocked at 1-1, but the Buccaneers held their nerve to claim a 4-1 win on penalties. 

After the clash, Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso stirred debate by highlighting Pirates’ reliance on a long-ball playing style, a comment that quickly set social media buzzing.

Here, GOAL dives into how fans reacted.

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  • Orlando Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns, August 2025Backpage

    Best players but can’t deliver

    Bringing excuses during post-match interviews won't cut it Mr Plumber. Winning the league only and being specialist semi-finalists is a pain we cannot endure anymore. Understand how privileged you are to be coaching a big club like Mamelodi Sundowns. You have the best players but fail to put together a solid performance and win. - Oratile Otsheleng 

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  • Orlando Pirates, August 2025Backpage

    Pirates were always going to win

    Honestly speaking, Sundowns were not going to beat Orlando Pirates. You’re designed for the league only, the rest is for us! - Xolani Mazibuko 

  • Jayden Adams, Mamelodi Sundowns, Patrick Maswanganyi, Orlando Pirates, August 2025Backpage

    Nothing great about Sundowns’ style of play

    Sundowns scored from a throw in, it's not like they had a decent build-up play that resulted in a goal. Even in the first leg, they relied on corner kicks to threaten Pirates’ defence. Gone are the days when Sundowns scored four plus goals against Pirates. - Mokone Mmakola 

  • Gaston Sirino of Kaizer ChiefsBackpagepix

    Next, Chiefs will take care of Sundowns

    This coach lacks football brains, he can't accept the results instead he's pointing fingers at something else as the reason behind his failures. Kaizer Chiefs will beat Sundowns on Wednesday and then Masandawana can buy him a one-way ticket out of South Africa. - Siba Gwala

  • Miguel Cardoso, Mamelodi Sundowns, August 2025Backpage

    Sundowns coaches always complaining

    For you to coach Sundowns, you have to be a cry baby. They complain about everyone and everything at that club. - Jongile Lefele 


  • Miguel Cardoso, Mamelodi SundownsBackpage

    The clock is ticking

    Miguel Cardoso’s days are numbered! - Sifiso Brian 


  • Miguel Cardoso, Mamelodi Sundowns, August 2025Backpage

    No more explanations needed

    Save your words, the door is open. Bye bye, Cardoso! - Mosamarea Galehole


  • Miguel Cardoso, Mamelodi Sundowns, August 2025Backpagepix

    Coaching not Cardoso’s forte

    Cardoso has a PhD in fishing, not coaching! - Philah Phila 

  • Miguel Cardoso, Mamelodi SundownsBackpage

    All just excuses

    You tried watering the pitch and that failed. Now you telling us about long balls. You had to make a plan to defend those long balls. You played with six defenders. Teboho Mokoena was converted to a CB. So what now? - Jason Phiri 

  • Miguel Cardoso, Mamelodi SundownsBackpage

    Take a look at your mistakes first

    Whatever happened, has happened and it's part of the game. You are the one to blame for being too defensive after scoring the goal. - Monwabisi Nyangule