Mamelodi Sundowns: Cardoso demands 'full seriousness' for Gomora United clash

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has vowed that his side will approach their Nedbank Cup last-32 encounter against Motsepe Foundation Championship outfit Gomora United with full seriousness when the two teams meet on Wednesday evening (7pm kick-off).

The Brazilians are chasing their first Nedbank Cup title since lifting the trophy in the 2021/22 season, as they continue their pursuit of silverware across multiple fronts while maintaining their dominance in the Betway Premiership.

With the CAF Champions League still sitting high on the club’s list of priorities, a strong run in the Nedbank Cup could play an important role in easing some of the pressure Sundowns have faced at various stages of the current campaign.

Despite facing lower-division opposition, Cardoso has made it clear that complacency will not be tolerated, confirming that Sundowns will field a strong lineup against a side they are expected to beat. 

“A new competition starts for us and for everyone and you can expect a strong team from Mamelodi Sundowns for this match,” Cardoso said ahead of the match.

“The same expectations and responsibility apply. It is a long way to go, and the first step for us is Gomora United — a team we recently played in a friendly match, and an opponent we have to respect.”

Sundowns head into the fixture on the back of a disappointing 2–1 defeat to Sudanese side Al Hilal in their Champions League group-stage encounter, but Cardoso is confident his team will respond with the right mindset.

“We will approach the match with seriousness. While I am here, my assistant coaches are busy preparing for the match so that we understand how to approach all the details and pass the information on to the players.”