Sundowns’ Champions League heroes return to domestic action

Mamelodi Sundowns have little time to celebrate their Caf Champions League semifinal win over Al Ahly, as they get back to Betway Premiership action with a home game against Richards Bay on Wednesday at Loftus Stadium. 

ALSO READ: Sundowns’ Cardoso – We totally deserved this

With eight games left to play in their Premiership season, Sundowns have a nine point lead over Orlando Pirates. 

Sundowns still have work to do

The Buccaneers, however, also have two games in hand, meaning there is still plenty of work to do for Masandawana to seal an eighth consecutive Premiership title. 

The fans at Loftus tomorrow are likely to pay tribute to their side’s momentous 1-1 draw in Cairo on Saturday, that set up a Champions League final against Pyramids. 

The two-legged affair will start in Tshwane at the end of next month. 

Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso also did his best after the Ahly game to assuage any anger their might be among his side’s fans. 

Cardoso made a comment after the home leg of the Ahly game about a lack of support inside Loftus for Sundowns. But he quickly backtracked after the second leg in Cairo. 

“It’s a pleasure to play in stadiums like these, like we had in Tunisia, like we had in Morocco and like we had in South Africa,” Cardoso told the post match press conference. 

“I made that mistake (at Loftus) when I entered the pitch, it (the stadium) was not really full, but then it got full.

“Let me address that … it was clear that the stadium got full, or at least got very comfortable in terms of numbers.

‘I made a mistake’

“I made a mistake addressing that at the end (of the Loftus match). Playing at Loftus with a lot of people and playing here with a lot of people … that’s what we truly love.” 

Fatigue may well be affecting Sundowns right now, at the tail end of a long season, that saw them also reach the final of the Carling Knockout and the semifinals of the Nedbank Cup. 

ALSO READ: Sundowns stun Ahly to reach Champions League final

Richards Bay, in danger of relegation, will be desperate for the points themselves, as will another struggling side, Cape Town City, who Sundowns visit on Saturday. 

After that, however, Cardoso’s side at least have a two week break to recover.