Miguel Cardoso wants the PSL to support his team in 2025-2026 CAF Champions League! | OneFootball

The Portuguese coach wants PSL to take into account his team's participation in CAF Champions League.

Miguel Cardoso wants the PSL to support his team in 2025-2026 CAF Champions League!

After guiding Mamelodi Sundowns into the group stage of the CAF Champions League, coach Miguel Cardoso is now waging a tactical campaign off the field. He’s throwing down the gauntlet to the Premier Soccer League (PSL), insisting that fixture support is the essential ingredient for continental glory.

The mission to reclaim the trophy they last lifted in 2016 is shadowed by memories of recent heartbreaks. Last season's dramatic run to the final—only to be edged out by Pyramids FC—remains both a painful memory and a source of motivation. Drawing on that experience, Cardoso has identified a major stumbling block: the relentless fixture pile-up that dogs his squad.

"We believe we can go even further this year," Cardoso declared, centering his plea on the principle of fair competition. He outlined a straightforward but vital demand—a free week to prepare for Champions League matches. For Cardoso, this isn’t about convenience; it’s a non-negotiable for competing with Africa’s best.

Cardoso then expanded his message, recasting Sundowns’ journey as a national cause. "When a South African team plays in the Champions League, it carries the flag for the entire country’s football," he stressed, making a passionate call for unified support.

To drive his point home, Cardoso drew on his own past success. Having reached the final with Tunisian heavyweights Esperance just last year, he saw how things could be different. "The biggest teams in Africa don’t play in the middle of the week," he observed. Their schedules are deliberately cleared, giving them the single-minded focus that Africa’s top competition demands. For Cardoso, this isn’t just a suggestion—it’s a rallying cry for the PSL to embrace a true championship mindset.