Mamelodi Sundowns’ head coach Miguel Cardoso shared his insights into the decision to replace Kutlwano Letlhaku with Siphelele Mkhulise just before the second half, a tactical shift that turned out to be pivotal.

The former coach of Espérance Sportive de Tunis celebrated a successful debut with Sundowns, guiding the team to a 1-0 victory against the formidable Moroccan club Raja at Loftus Stadium on Sunday.

Bafana Bafana forward Iqraam Rayners scored the match’s only goal, courtesy of an assist from a product of the Sundowns academy, marking a promising beginning for the African giants in the CAF Champions League.

This win marked the first success for the Brazilians in the group stage of the Champions League, following two earlier draws that resulted in the dismissal of coach Manqoba Mngqithi.

“Raja approached the game with a 4-4-2 formation, employing either a high press or a more conservative strategy, but they generally displayed effective buildup play,” Cardoso noted.

“Typically, they would employ a 4-1-4-1 setup during defense, which aids their buildup capability. Therefore, we needed to recalibrate our tactics to create opportunities for taking the lead,” he explained.

“Thus, the substitution was not a reflection of Mkhulise’s performance; it was instead a strategic decision involving different players. My substitutions are mainly informed by tactical evaluations to effectively manage the game.”

Having only three days to prepare since joining Sundowns on Tuesday and starting his work on Wednesday, Cardoso highlighted the importance of this win considering the limited preparation period.

“This victory has certainly reinforced our confidence,” Cardoso stated.

“By managing the game with diverse strategies while executing our plans effectively, we empower ourselves, instilling belief in our structure and capabilities—especially within the players, that we are capable of achieving great things.

“From day one, I sensed a strong commitment; I recognized it instantly, even after researching the club. It strengthens my role within the team, but this is just the beginning; we have a lot more challenges ahead.

“So, I don’t indulge in excessive celebrations after a win. Remember, during the press conference on Friday, I stressed that consistency is more crucial than perfection if we intend to reach our objectives.

“Let’s aim for consistency while adhering to our approaches, beliefs, and mindset. Today was a critical win for us; now we must recover and prepare for the next match, as this group remains competitive and demands our best efforts.”

This match served as Sundowns’ concluding encounter in the 2024 Champions League. They will return to play next year, facing Raja once more in Morocco for their next game.