EXCLUSIVE I Dan Malesela urges Mamelodi Sundowns fans to avoid panic regarding Cardoso

Former Mamelodi Sundowns defender Dan Malesela has called for patience amid growing scrutiny around head coach Miguel Cardoso, insisting that fluctuations in form are part and parcel of any football season.

Sundowns appear to be building momentum at a crucial stage of the campaign after booking their place in the CAF Champions League quarter-finals. They will learn their next opponents when the draw takes place in Cairo on Tuesday at noon.

The Brazilians remain firmly on course to achieve their main objectives this season — chasing a second Champions League title, defending their domestic league crown, and continuing their pursuit of silverware in the Nedbank Cup.

However, the immediate focus shifts to a high-pressure league encounter against rivals Orlando Pirates at FNB Stadium on Wednesday evening (7.30pm kick-off). With the Buccaneers currently holding a six-point advantage, the clash presents Sundowns with an opportunity to narrow the gap and reassert control in what is shaping up to be a tightly contested title race.

Given the quality within both squads, many expect the battle for supremacy to go down to the wire. Pirates endured early setbacks this season, including league defeats and a premature Champions League exit at the hands of DRC outfit Saint Eloi Lupopo in the second preliminary round. 

However, under the guidance of Abdeslam Ouaddou, they have engineered an impressive revival, claiming both the MTN8 and Carling Knockout titles while putting together a formidable 14-match unbeaten streak in the league.

In contrast, Sundowns have faced persistent murmurs suggesting they are no longer the dominant force of previous seasons. Much of the criticism has been directed at Cardoso, with questions raised about the team’s consistency and cutting edge.

A convincing 2-0 victory over Rulani Mokwena’s MC Alger in the continental premier competition this past weekend has eased some of the pressure on the Portuguese tactician. Nonetheless, Malesela believes calls for drastic changes are premature and rooted more in anxiety than reason.

“In past seasons, Sundowns often ran away with the league after 10 to 15 matches, building sizeable gaps,” Malesela told Independent Media this week. “Now, other clubs are closing in, and the points margins have become very narrow.”

“That scares people, and it’s concerning for a lot of supporters, but we all need to give the man a chance and see what happens. You can’t start making changes because you are panicking and suddenly want to fire and hire people.

“Even if it was somebody else coaching the club, the aspirations from other teams would remain the same. Things are bound to change sometimes. When you have to rotate and change personnel from time-to-time, it was always going to affect the team somewhere.”

Dominance has defined Sundowns’ reign over the past eight seasons. The Chloorkop-based outfit have not only collected the league title consistently but also shattered numerous records along the way. Such sustained superiority inevitably raises expectations to extraordinary levels.

However, Malesela pointed out that Sundowns have shown a clear drop in attacking sharpness this term.

“The biggest concern about Sundowns now is that they are not creating as many chances as they used to,” he added. “They need to look at whether they are keeping possession in effective areas or if they are holding the ball in zones that are not really hurting the opposition.”