Chiefs defender thanks Komphela

Cardoso and Komphela worked together at Free State Stars before reuniting at Chiefs.

Komphela gave him a his big break at Ea Lla Koto after the central defender failed to impress at Jomo Cosmos, Orlando Pirates and Bidvest Wits academies.

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“He gave me my breakthrough,” Cardoso told Amakhosi’s website. “If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be where I am now.”

It was Eric Tinkler, however, who moved Cardoso from a striker position to a defensive role during their time at Wits academy.

“I had always been a striker, scoring quite a number of goals, so I wasn’t too happy at first (when Tinkler switched his position). But it eventually worked out well. I love this position, because of the responsibilities and the demands it comes with,” he admitted.

Cardoso also thanked former Wits and Chiefs left-back Bradley Carnell for the role he played in reviving his career.

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“I was at some stage without a club and participated in a tournament in Soweto. Bradley saw me play. He was thereafter always convinced that I would make it and started to help me,” commented Cardoso.