Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has played down the reported altercation involving assistant coach Steve Komphela and Wiliete SC coach Beto Bianchi, insisting the incident will not overshadow Friday’s CAF Champions League encounter.
The Brazilians host the Angolan side in the second-leg match of their second-round tie at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Friday at 8pm, following a goalless draw in the first leg in Angola on Sunday.
Komphela and Bianchi were reportedly involved in a heated confrontation in the tunnel after the match, with allegations that the incident turned physical and involved racial language.
Reports further alleged that Bianchi was kicked in a sensitive area while leaving the dressing room to attend a post-match press conference. He was reportedly hospitalised following the incident.
However, Cardoso has urged the public not to exaggerate the situation, describing it as an emotional moment that should not be allowed to overshadow the upcoming encounter.
Speaking to the media during a press conference at Chloorkop on Wednesday, the Sundowns coach said the incident had received more attention than necessary.
“There are two or three things I can say: the first one is that small things can sometimes become big things, obviously when you give them too much attention. I think that was given too much attention than necessary,” Cardoso said.
He also reflected positively on Sundowns’ overall experience in Angola, praising the reception the team received during their visit.
“Secondly, as a club, we were very well received in Angola, and we worked very well until the last minute when we entered the flight,” he added.
Cardoso acknowledged that emotions are part of football, suggesting that isolated moments of tension should not define relations between teams.
“Football has a lot to deal with emotions. They sometimes drop out from the glass; it doesn’t mean that the glass is broken or the water is spoilt. It is just a little bit of emotions,” he said.
The Portuguese tactician maintained that the matter had been put behind them and expressed confidence that Friday’s encounter would be a positive occasion.
“And we’ve already overcome that, and for sure it will be a beautiful match on Friday,” Cardoso concluded.