Miguel Cardoso sets tone for Caf Champions League final after being crowned PSL champions - 'South Africa should be very proud to have a team like Mamelodi Sundowns'

Mamelodi Sundowns beat Magesi FC 2-0 at Loftus Versfeld to close their 2024/25 Premier Soccer League campaign on a high.

It was coach Miguel Cardoso's first trophy in charge of Masandawana after joining the club in December 2024.

“I think that we also brought different things to this team, it has nothing to do with the better or worse, it’s just what it is. But it’s a pleasure to see this team play at the moment," said Cardoso after the game.

“I feel the boys are released, they play without responsibility, but having responsibility. They organise themselves meanwhile they play. So, there’s a lot of dynamics. I was looking at other aspects of Magesi defending and it’s important to look at other aspects obviously when it’s taken to the limit.

“But we need to understand that our challengers are always ahead and we need to celebrate today and I told today was not supposed to be a party but a celebration," added the Portuguese trainer.

"Celebration of love, football, and culture, we see in the stands from our fans. I think that South Africa should be very proud to have a team like Mamelodi Sundowns."

The Brazilians are on an eight-match winning streak in the PSL and that is the kind of motivation they might have needed going into the Caf Champions League final.

Celebrations were witnessed last Wednesday when they beat Chippa United 3-0, as well as on Sunday, painted a positive picture of a happy camp.

That is what Cardoso would need to motivate his players ahead of the crucial continental assignments.

The Brazilians are now preparing to host Pyramids for the Champions League final, first-leg at Loftus Versfeld next Saturday, before visiting the Egyptians for the second leg the next weekend.

That would be their last assignments on the continent this season before heading to the 2025 Fifa Club World Cup.