Cardoso reveals message to Khoza after blunder against Gomora

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has stood with defender Malibongwe Khoza after his mistake against Gomora United on Wednesday.

The defender was robbed of the ball by Mpho Moake during the two team’s Nedbank Cup Round of 32 match before the Gomora star went in to score to level matters on the stroke of halftime after Peter Shalulile had broken the deadlock in the 40^th minute.

Sundowns would go on to score the winner through Thapelo Morena just after the hour mark and held on to win 2-1 and make it to the Round of 16.

Cardoso says it was important to support the young defender who was making his first start since returning from an injury that hampered his season.

What did Sundowns coach tell Khoza?

Mistake = Punished 🤯

Gomora United equalise just before half-time 😤💥

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“Everybody saw he made a mistake that led to a goal, but it’s a moment for the coach to stand with the boy, he’s a player we trust for the future and one that was important in certain moments, he didn’t play one minute this season, so it was time to support him,” Cardoso said as quoted by iDiski Times.

“Responsibility in a match, demands for him in the training sessions, is trying to make him better, so it’s a moment to support him, rather than [take him off], I did the Tsiki, I did the same with Aubaas – we support and trust each other, a mistake does not speak for you.

“What speaks for you is the attitude you put in after – okay it’s true I felt a bit of insecurity but we support each other in this family.”

The Sundowns coach was disappointed that his team did not capitalise on their many chances but was grateful that they responded after he urged them to play with confidence at halftime.

Cardoso impressed by player’s response

“Just give confidence to the boys, I think the game could have had a simple story in terms of goals, especially after the first 20 minutes we created many situations and we had to score, sometimes football can be tricky and out of nothing from a mistake of our own we can suffer a goal,” added Cardoso.

“But what’s important is not to relate to mistakes, there was an important attitude, trying to get a result, which could have been much bigger, but in the end, mission accomplished, a lot of things in the head of the boys – match, Champions League, match before and Champions League, so important to get a result and progress, objective accomplished.”