Mamelodi Sundowns News Today: Cardoso pleads with referees, MTN8 final motivation & more

Latest Mamelodi Sundowns news, including coach Miguel Cardoso calling on MTN8 final referees to maintain high standards and what motivates the club ahead of the clash.

Cardoso applying pressure on referees?

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso is hoping that the referees will be at their best during the MTN8 final against Orlando Pirates.

Sundowns and Pirates clash in the final at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday with the Buccaneers eyeing a fifth straight title while the Brazilians look to end their five-year wait.

For Cardoso, the quality of both teams is not in doubt but he is hoping that the performance of the match officials will also be on high standards.

 “We know what these games mean in South Africa; there is strong attention on the match,” said Cardoso as per FARPost.

“So we see it as one of the other matches on our way, and I can tell you that we already started preparing for the Richards Bay FC match [in the Betway Premiership set for Tuesday, 13 October] in the past two weeks.

“We don’t make a special preparation for this match [against Pirates]; we just take it like the next one, and whatever pressure comes from us is just for us to deal with in a natural way.”

“This game will be important, and we want to play it as best as we can. Both teams are in a good moment, but whatever happens will not speak for the season; the season will be spoken about in the end. Obviously, let’s hope the best team wins; let’s hope Sundowns is the best team,” the Portuguese coach further stated.

“By the way, I hope that the referees will be the best team on the pitch. That’s my clear request, but I hope Mamelodi Sundowns will be the best team regarding football.”

Kekana on Sundowns motivation for MTN8 final

Meanwhile, Sundowns defender Grant Kekana says the team is fired up for the MTN8 final as they are looking to end their long wait for a domestic cup.

Sundowns have dominated in the Premier Soccer League and on the continent where they are the CAF Champions League winners but they have underperformed in domestic cups, something Kekana says motivates them ahead of Saturday’s match with Orlando Pirates.

“I think it’s not too personal; we don’t like personalising games. I think it’s more just about us doing better than what we did last season, and I think we have had such a good start this season,” Kekana told the media as quoted by FARPost.

“We just want to keep that momentum because we are highly motivated; we are all positive. As you can see, a lot of players have been getting a chance.

“I think everybody is not far off from one another. It’s just about us implementing what we know so that we get a positive result at the weekend.

“As Mamelodi Sundowns, we don’t play competitions to compete, but we play to dominate. Last season we were unfortunate not to get anything, any trophies locally.

 “But this season we have given ourselves a chance, especially at the start of the season. We are still adjusting to get a local trophy. So, we are highly motivated, and I think the lads are just eager and ready to go.”