Cardoso Plays Down Komphela-Bianchi Bust-Up Ahead of Wiliete Showdown
Miguel Cardoso says the storm that erupted in Angola is already over. Now Mamelodi Sundowns need a win to keep their Champions League dream alive.
The Sundowns coach has broken his silence on the alleged physical altercation between his assistant Steve Komphela and Wiliete SC coach Beto Bianchi, which followed the goalless draw in the first leg of their second preliminary round tie.
Reports claimed Bianchi was hospitalised after the scuffle, which allegedly escalated when he directed racial slurs at Komphela. Further reports said Komphela struck Bianchi, prompting Wiliete to consider a complaint to CAF.
But Cardoso wants the noise turned down. “There are two things that I can say.,” said Cardoso on Wednesday.
“Small things can become big things when you give it too much attention. I think that [incident] had too much attention to what really happened.
“The second one is that we were very well received and we were taken care of very well, even to the last moment we took our flight back home.
“The two teams have a good relationship, and we are still establishing a good relationship in terms of how people connect.
“So football has to do with a lot of emotions; there were a lot of emotions. Sometimes those emotions break out, and we have already overcome that, and it will definitely be a beautiful match on Friday between people who respect each other. We will welcome the people from Wiliete very well.
“I spoke to the coach [of Wiliete, Bianchi] before the press conference and after the match, and we had an absolutely normal talk, and we hope that this time there won’t be extra energy from both sides rather than on the pitch because that’s where the teams have to fight each other.
“Let’s not make noise over things that are very small. There are so many things that happen in football that we don’t speak about.”
The off-field drama is not Cardoso’s only headache. Teboho Mokoena, Ronwen Williams and Aubrey Modiba all face late fitness tests before Friday’s decider at Loftus Versfeld, with kick-off at 8pm.
The defending champions need a decisive home win to book their place in the group stages.
