{
  "id": 8618588,
  "title": "Cardoso backs Bafana boss Mosimane, saying players belong to country at national team level",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/cardoso-backs-bafana-boss-mosimane-saying-players-belong-to-country",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-20T05:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "IOL",
    "slug": "iol",
    "url": "https://iol.co.za/sport/soccer/bafana/2026-09-20-cardoso-backs-bafana-boss-mosimane-saying-players-belong-to-country-at-national-team-level/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Miguel Cardoso has offered his support to Bafana Bafana’s new coach Pitso Mosimane whenever needed, emphasizing that national team players belong to the country at the highest level. Thirteen Mamelodi Sundowns players will report for national duty on Monday, as they are called up for the 2027 Afcon qualifiers against Guinea, Eritrea, and a friendly match against Egypt on October 4. This lineup bolsters both the squad's depth and on-pitch dominance, as they recently won the Fifa African-Asian-Pacific Cup by defeating Al Ahli 2-1. Cardoso asserts that supporting the national team is his job, explaining that these players become Sundowns players only after returning home. While there is often banter about Sundowns and Bafana being the same, Cardoso firmly denies this, stating that there are no Sundowns players in the national team. He takes pride in the national team and its achievements, and he supports Mosimane's efforts to make them stronger. Although sending these players on national duty could be a double-edged sword, as it may expose them to higher levels and potential injuries, Cardoso remains confident. He believes that with the coach starting fresh, they can achieve positive results and celebrate their success together with the same enthusiasm they display in their club matches.",
  "summary": "Miguel Cardoso has pledged full support for Bafana Bafana's new coach, emphasizing that national team players represent South Africa, not individual clubs like Sundowns.",
  "key_points": [
    "Miguel Cardoso backs Pitso Mosimane as Bafana Bafana coach.",
    "Thirteen Mamelodi Sundowns players report for national duty.",
    "Players belong to country at national team level, not Sundowns."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Cardoso's backing of Mosimane and emphasis on players' national ownership signals a collaborative approach between Mamelodi Sundowns and Bafana Bafana, potentially strengthening both teams.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}