Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has denied that the decision to retain Steve Komphela and Kennedy Mweene on his coaching staff was imposed on him.
Cardoso was unveiled on Tuesday as Sundowns’ new coach, taking over from Manqoba Mngqithi, who was sacked over poor performances, alongside coaches Romain Folz and Wendell Robinson.
Komphela and Mweene were, however, retained and are set to work with Cardoso as well as his Portuguese assistants Fabio Fernandes, Joao Araujo and Pedro Azevedo.
The tactician says he needed locals on his coaching staff to help him quickly adapt to his surroundings and feels the knowledge and experience of Komphela and Mweene will be vital.
Cardoso happy to have Komphela & Mweene
“I feel very happy with the staff I have, it was a common decision to keep Steve Komphela and Kennedy with us, I need to absorb as quickly as possible, not only their [knowledge] but they can help us with the quality of their work,” said Cardoso.
“Their experience they have, but the fact they are locals, and they can give us the insights we need, it’s the couple of factors that made them be among or with me today, it was a decision we made, not imposed, otherwise I could not speak and say this in front of you.
“It was my decision to really absorb them because I felt it can be key but not only them, I will also work with all the physical performance department, I will work together with Mathias [Zangenberg] and Sandiso who were already here.”
Cardoso says he did not want to make wholesale changes and will still rely on many people in different departments at the club whom he feels are competent enough.
Sundowns coach keen to work with everyone
“I will work with all the analysis departments, so they will also be kept to work with me and the medical department and with all the kit men, all the people in management, I will work with everybody, I am very easy going on relations,” he added.
“I am demanding but it doesn’t mean I don’t smile and I don’t greet, we want to perform, I will develop myself with them and they will develop with me, but what I need is open-minded people because I’m here to help.
“I am one more, not the boss or whatever, it’s not my attitude, I will lead because I will give an example, I will motivate people, I will lead because they will believe in me, and together because I believe in them, I am sure where we will arrive where we want to be.”
Komphela returned to Sundowns at the start of this season to work alongside Mngqithi when Rulani Mokwena was sacked while former Zambia captain Mweene was absorbed into the coaching team to work with the club’s goalkeepers following his retirement.
