Sundowns’ Cardoso angry with venue change for Chippa clash

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has voiced his discontent over the venue alteration for the Masandawana Betway Premiership match against Chippa United. Initially scheduled at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha, the game has been relocated to Buffalo City Stadium in Port Elizabeth due to surface issues. This change has resulted in Sundowns having a day less for preparation before their Fifa Intercontinental Cup encounter with Saudi giants Al-Ahli on September 19.

Cardoso expressed his concern regarding the scheduling disruption, stating that the team cannot return to Gqeberha on the same day as the match and that they cannot travel to the Intercontinental Cup match in the morning of the following day. He lamented the lack of proper preparation conditions, noting that his players had anticipated spending a day with family and had planned accordingly.

Despite the six days available for preparation, Cardoso's players are expected to spend just one day together, leaving no time for additional training sessions. Cardoso criticized the decision, questioning why a club would alter its pitch plans based on its own interests rather than honoring the initial agreements.