Cardoso Reflects on Emotional Sundowns Pre-Season After Tragic Loss

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has offered a candid reflection on the club's pre-season preparations, describing the period as deeply emotional following the tragic passing of midfielder Jayden AdamsPlayer·Jayden Adams. The overseas training camp, according to Cardoso, provided a crucial environment for the squad to process their grief and forge a stronger collective bond.

"I think we ended the camp in the right spot, mourning, honouring him, sharing our love and drawing strength from that," Cardoso stated, highlighting the dual purpose of the pre-season: physical conditioning and emotional healing. This period of introspection and unity was vital as the team navigated a delayed departure for their camp, which resulted in them missing the opening weekend of the domestic season.

The upcoming 2026/27 campaign promises to be a rigorous one for Mamelodi Sundowns, with the potential to compete for an ambitious five trophies. Their season is set to commence with a home MTN8Competition·MTN8 quarter-final clash against Polokwane City, a fixture that will test their readiness after the unique pre-season.

Sundowns enter the new season on the back of a highly successful 2025/26 campaign on the continental stage, where they secured the prestigious CAF Champions League title. Domestically, however, they finished as runner-ups in the South African PremiershipCompetition·South African Premiership, trailing champions Orlando PiratesTeam·Orlando Pirates by a single point. Cardoso acknowledged that the club's reliance on young players during the initial stages of the previous season might have contributed to their slower start in the league.

As reigning CAF Champions League winners, Mamelodi Sundowns are also slated to face USM Alger, the CAF Confederation Cup champions, in the CAF Super CupCompetition·CAF Super Cup. This significant continental encounter is scheduled for November 8, 2026, and will take place in Pretoria, offering an early opportunity for more silverware.

Cardoso expressed confidence in his squad's mental and physical preparedness for the challenges ahead, emphasizing the strategic value of their pre-season matches against international opponents in Europe. These high-calibre fixtures are seen as essential preparation, not only for the immediate domestic and continental competitions but also for future global tournaments, including the FIFA Club World CupCompetition·FIFA Club World Cup in 2029.