New Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has revealed how playing against The Brazilians in the CAF Champions League influenced his decision to take up the role.
On the back of a surprise unveiling, as the new head coach of Sundowns, confirmed at a club press conference on Tuesday, Cardoso has given vital insight into what ultimately convinced him to take up the job of head coach at Sundowns.
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Speaking to the club's media on Friday, ahead of his first competitive match, the former Esperance Sportive de Tunis coach revealed that an encounter against Sundowns in the semi-final of the CAF Champions League last season, went a long way in influencing his decision.
"After the success we had last year at Esperance, breaching the final of the [CAF] Champions League and by winning the lac Championship, we opened a lot the market in Africa and also in the Middle East," Cardoso said.
"Also, I am a coach that had already worked al to in Europe, so also the European market.
"But I felt I needed a break [and left Esperance]. I didn't want to open too many conversations with many clubs because I needed a little energy for my family.
"My family doesn't usually travel with me, so when I have a break, I usually lie to give time to my family. So I decided not to rush the decision to take on another club.
"But then appeared Sundowns and I was not bluffing when I told the staff today that when I played against them [in the CAF Champions League semi-final] I had the thoughts of being on the other side.
"Because I come from a big club; Esperance is a big club with a big fanbase but also I wanted to be in the other part of Africa where I can grow as a man, and absorb the culture.
"South Africa is a country that really excites me.
"Also, the sport project of Sundowns is so exciting that I obviously immediately opened my heart and it was so easy to feel the excitement to come here. From there it was very easy."
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Cardoso's first test at the helm comes just days into his appointment in the form of a CAF Champions League group stage encounter against Raja CA. The match will be played at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
Kick-off is at 15:00.