Miguel Cardoso appears to be having a lot to prove at Mamelodi Sundowns, with sections of supporters not convinced by the Club World Cup showing, a sentiment shared by a former PSL goalkeeper.
Sundowns held their own against established opposition at the FIFA Club World Cup, including Borussia Dortmund and Fluminense, and generally receiving praise for a good advert for SA football.
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Cardoso went to the tournament with grumblings already that his charges should have beaten Pyramids FC in the CAF Champions League final, a few weeks prior to jetting off to the United States.
Former Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Benson Mhlongo stopped short of casting doubt, suggesting that applauding Sundowns' display at the Club World Cup could be settling for mediocrity.
"I honestly believe Sundowns are a different class, (but) if people are excited with what we've witnessed at the Club World Cup, especially with Sundowns performances, we've seen better from Sundowns," Mhlongo said on TimesLIVE Video YouTube Channel.
"For me personally, I think the challenge would be, I (wanted) Sundowns to go to the next round, to the knockout phase because of the pedigree and style of play, the dominance, (regardless) of opposition. The ball retention is good, the attacking flair, the class, the aura.
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The Brazilians qualifying was, in the main, thanks to Rulani Mokwena and Manqoba Mngqithi continuously making it to the latter stages of the Champions League (as co-coaches and later Mokwena as head coach) in the last four-year cycle that was under consideration by FIFA on measuring points in their rankings system.
Photo: Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images
