Al Ahli served an early warning ahead of Intercontinental Cup date with Sundowns

Published on by

Al Ahli served an early warning ahead of Intercontinental Cup date with Sundowns
Miguel Cardoso of Mamelodi Sundowns, Image: SABC

Mamelodi Sundowns are set to host Asian heavyweights Al Ahli on Saturday in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup that will be staged at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium.

Masandawana tactician Miguel Cadoso insists this will be a massive game, and has value ‘beyond the Club World Cup.’ It explains why he has urged the players to give everything to win the game.

He has further sounded a warning to the Asian champions that the Brazilians are in the tournament to compete.

It goes beyond the Club World Cup.

“Yeah, just before you speak about that, let me leave a word for the families of the ladies who were unfortunately murdered and appeared dead. We feel this moment very deeply because we also lost someone very important in the family recently, and we would like to express our solidarity to the families, to the beloved ones, and say a strong word for South Africa to react in the right way. Everybody should take care until we can close this situation,” he said in a presser.

Lucas Ribeiro Costa at FIFA Club World Cup in 2025

“Regarding this match, I think everybody understands that this goes beyond the Club World Cup. This is not a democratic competition where you have a lot of teams playing.

“It’s a very, very, very high level standard where Sundowns puts the name, and we should all feel proud of that. It’s a moment for South Africa to be united, to enjoy this possibility. Not always do you have an African champion, and obviously an African champion can have or get the right to be at this level. We feel very proud. We as a club feel very proud. We as players feel very proud, and we as coaching staff feel privileged to achieve such a level,” Cardoso added.

Masandawana in the tournament to compete

“Obviously, we don’t want just to participate. We want to compete at the highest level we can. So it’s a good opportunity for us to push ourselves to the limit,” the former Esperance coach added.

Mamelodi Sundowns players celebrate their win over Siwelele FC.
Mamelodi Sundowns players celebrate their win over Siwelele FC. Image: Mamelodi Sundowns

“What we should expect will be according to the level we put into our performance. We need to be on top of the course. Al Ahli is a team that is a powerhouse, you know, but budgets don’t play.

“Otherwise, if we put it in time, we would be 80-year-olds, and they would be 80. It’s a little bit of a difference. But that doesn’t play. As soon as the referee will blow the whistle, what will speak for the result is the effort and the quality of the game both teams can put,” Cardoso explained.

Players urged to have maximum concentration

“We need to be 100% focused. 99% will not be enough because these players or those players can decide games out of one situation. We experienced that when we played Al-Hilal in the pre-season, a match that we were very good. We played quite well. I know that most of the people didn’t see that match.

“But out of two counter-attacks, we suffered two goals. So we need to control everything that may come on the pitch.

“We need to be very strong. Very resilient. And we need, obviously, the people to understand, to cheer us, to push, to bring us extra energy so that we can be pushed to the limit throughout all the time the match may have,” the 54-year-old concluded.

<!-- Author Start -->Willis Sob<!-- Author End -->

Willis Sob

Author

  • Football Odds
  • Sports Journalism
  • Football

Willis Sob is a sports betting expert and journalist covering Nigeria and South Africa, with 16 years of experience. With a background in journalism, reporting and programme production, he specialises in football odds, and his work has appeared on OK Africa and GOAL, as well as TV, radio and podcasts.

You May Also Like