Survival of the fittest for Miguel Cardoso at Mamelodi Sundowns

Coaching is not for the sissies or the faint-hearted, is it? You either suck it up and make the best of the situation, or quit and join the overwhelming pool of the unemployed.

Take Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso, for instance. The Portugal-born coach is holding on for dear life at the club, hoping that he will eventually turn the situation around and become everyone’s cup of tea by the end of the season.

But whether that will be the case remains to be seen, as it seems the only way Cardoso can catch a break and get some beauty sleep is by winning every passing game, something that may not be realistic, given that football has three outcomes: wins, draws and losses.

Cardoso started the season with little to no indication that he might be sacked, the fact that Sundowns failed to win the CAF Champions League — the most coveted title they were chasing — at the final hurdle notwithstanding.

Despite the calm surrounding his future, there was a growing sense in football circles that this was a make-or-break season for Cardoso. He had to win a record-extending ninth Betway Premiership title in a row and finally deliver the continental crown at all costs.

True to that sentiment, before the halfway mark of the season, it appeared a review of his first half in charge had taken place in the plush corridors of Chloorkop. The big suits were clearly unimpressed, prompting an SOS call to the club’s most successful coach, Pitso Mosimane.

The possible return of Mosimane sent everyone — Masandawana, rivals and neutrals alike — into a frenzy. Mosimane had left the club under a dark cloud, resigning just three months into a new contract to take up the role of leading Africa’s Club of the Century, Al Ahly, where he enjoyed immense success.

His departure displeased the Sundowns board so much that they opened a case against his agency, MT Sports Marketing and Management, led by his wife Moira Tlhagale, demanding repayment of commission fees paid to cover his full tenure at the club.

With the court case still ongoing — and Sundowns reportedly having won the first battle – many were surprised that Mosimane would even consider returning. That, perhaps, speaks to football’s unpredictability, where everything can change in the blink of an eye.

Mosimane is currently employed after various stints in the Middle East and is not desperate for work. He has shifted focus to developing the next generation of stars and coaches through his academy. That said, it is no secret that “Jingles” and his trusted lieutenants do not come cheap, meaning very few clubs – if any besides Sundowns – can afford him in the PSL.

For Mosimane to listen when Sundowns come knocking is therefore a no-brainer. His departure may have turned some admirers into harsh critics, with some stooping as low as insulting his mother when he returned to face Sundowns in Atteridgeville, but the club will always have a special place in his heart – and vice versa.

Some critics who targeted Mosimane during his spell at Al Ahly also seem to have re-emerged as admirers, chanting his name whenever Sundowns hit a brick wall.

Those calls –from both sections of the supporters and some club officials – culminated in ugly scenes following Sundowns’ 2-2 draw with Al Hilal in the CAF Champions League group stage at home. Cardoso and sporting director Flemming Berg were whisked away after being targeted.

Amid the chaos, Cardoso remained in his post, with the club backing him and issuing a firm warning that hooliganism and violence would not be tolerated. He also responded positively on the pitch, guiding Sundowns to a late away win over Sekhukhune United in their most recent league outing.

As this piece was penned before Sundowns faced Al Hilal in the return leg in Rwanda, you may be reading it after that result has already influenced Cardoso’s future. But whatever the outcome, one thing is certain: the man hung on.

The fact that some Sundowns supporters were unhappy with the team’s narrow lead at the top of the league, their unattractive style of football, or their lack of dominance in the Champions League does not appear to have bothered him much. Perhaps that is what football truly is about. It may be called the beautiful game, but ultimately, it is about survival of the fittest and the elimination of the weakest.