Miguel Cardoso: Why Sports Minister wants to report Mamelodi Sundowns coach

Sports Minister, Gayton McKenzie, has publicly condemned Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso for comments made following the club’s CAF Champions League victory.

The Minister announced his intention to file a formal complaint with the club regarding the coach’s remarks.

The controversy arose after Sundowns secured their second Champions League title, defeating Moroccan side AS FAR 2-1 on aggregate on Sunday. Cardoso has been outspoken about the demands of the local football schedule, particularly after his team endured a grueling run of seven matches in just 21 days at the end of their Betway Premiership season.

Following the continental triumph, Cardoso used his media appearance to address the state of South African football development.

“I also believe that it’s important, if South Africa wants to have a team again soon or in the near future in the Champions League, it has to change some dynamics,” Cardoso stated in Morocco. “It’s really important that those dynamics are changed to provide better conditions.”

Cardoso concerned by fixture congestion

The coach highlighted the impact of the congested fixture list on his squad, noting the absence of key players who are also national team prospects.

We are happy for @Masandawana but we cannot continuously be told by this coach about how bad our league is run. We like everyone else got challenges but we have the best run league in Africa. Stop talking down on South Africa. We will write to @Masandawana to complain today. https://t.co/qrdrQffgox

— Gayton McKenzie (@GaytonMcK) May 25, 2026

“Today, there are three players who are potential Bafana Bafana players who could not play: Thapelo Morena, Aubrey Modiba, Bathusi Aubaas,” he explained. “They are not here because in the last month, they were exposed to something that was not normal. And they also could not play a final.”

“It’s time for people that are in charge of football in South Africa to really think what they want towards the development of football in the country,” Cardoso added. “I believe that it’s possible because the club will continue to work hard to lift the level and development.”

McKenzie, clearly angered by the comments, responded on social media, expressing his discontent and confirming his plan to contact the club directly.

Sports Minister hits back at Sundowns coach

“We are happy for @Masandawana, but we cannot continuously be told by this coach about how bad our league is run,” the Minister wrote. “We, like everyone else, got challenges, but we have the best-run league in Africa. Stop talking down on South Africa. We will write to @Masandawana to complain today.”

In a separate post, McKenzie elaborated on his concerns, stating: “Listening to Cardoso, the coach of @Masandawana, you will think everything is wrong with our league. He says these things without forwarding any proof. We are working very hard to bring in sponsors, and this type of nonsense spewed sets us back tremendously.”

Listening to Cardosa the coach of @Masandawana you will think everything is wrong with our league, he says this things without forwarding any proof. We working very hard to bring in sponsors and this type of nonsense spewed sets us back tremendously.

— Gayton McKenzie (@GaytonMcK) May 25, 2026

The debate has sparked discussion, with some observers noting that the Premier Soccer League’s (PSL) scheduling has faced scrutiny before. The fact that the league season concluded while Sundowns still had outstanding fixtures to complete has been described as unprofessional and unfair, regardless of the team involved.

However, critics of Cardoso’s stance argue that foreign coaches should refrain from such public criticism if they find the league’s conditions unsatisfactory. They also point out that the coach did not offer concrete solutions for how the PSL could have managed its fixtures, given the FIFA deadline of May 24 for all domestic games to be completed.