Former Mamelodi Sundowns defender Wayne Arendse has backed coach Miguel Cardoso to remain at the club despite the defeat to Pyramids in the CAF Champions League final.
Sundowns fans have been calling for Cardoso’s dismissal after he chose to put in Lebo Mothiba instead of fan-favorite Themba Zwane during the second half on Sunday evening.
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Arendse, who won the CAF Champions League with Sundowns in 2016, believes Cardoso did not make any mistakes on Sunday in Egypt.
Arendse suggests that public opinion would be different if Mothiba had converted a chance late in the match.
“The defeat on Sunday was disappointing, to be honest, because Sundowns always had the potential to score,” Arendse tells KickOff.
“I knew they were going to score; it’s just that they conceded two goals. Conceding those goals ultimately cost us the match. It’s something the club must learn from.
“There’s no pretty football in a cup final, but I’m sure Sundowns have learned from this experience. The coach made a decision, and I respect that. He brought on what was needed at the time, which was a striker with aerial ability, and he chose to bring in Mothiba.
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“Mothiba had a chance from a corner, and if he had scored, everybody would have praised Coach Cardoso as a genius. It would have been a different story.
“It’s a coach’s decision; it could have gone either way. All I’m saying is that it’s his decision. I think there has been progress since last year when they were eliminated in the semi-finals. They’ve taken a step forward this year by reaching the final. Although the victory was within reach, I don’t think the coach should be fired. I believe he deserves another chance.”
