Cardozo: 'AS FAR Match Was Tough, Playing in Morocco Isn't Easy'
Mamelodi Sundowns coach, Miguel Cardozo, affirmed that the CAF Champions League final match against AS FAR was extremely difficult. He emphasized that his team faced a strong opponent who deserved respect, both on the field and for the significant fan support they received.
Cardozo, in statements reported by 'foot africa', said that discussions about the final should not be limited to winners and losers, but rather focus on the immense effort put in by both sides throughout the campaign, explaining that reaching this stage is a success in itself.
The Portuguese coach added: “It was a difficult match, let's talk about football, because there were two strong teams on the field. AS FAR are not losers; I said that last year and two years ago, I never felt like a loser just because I didn't win the final.”
He continued: “We had a long season, there were 154 matches, two coaches, two technical staffs, and two sets of players, all of them winners. The only difference is that one team got the gold medal and the other got the silver.”
Cardozo also praised the atmosphere at the stadium, affirming that playing in Morocco is not easy. He stated: “We know that playing in Morocco is not easy, and I congratulate AS FAR on the wonderful atmosphere in the stadium. There was great fan support, but also a high level of respect and sportsmanship during this big match.”
The Sundowns coach concluded by emphasizing that such finals highlight the value of African football and the strong competition among the continent's major clubs.
