From Dynasty to Drama: Sundowns Fans Bay for Blood as Cardoso's Throne Shakes
Miguel Cardoso Frustrated After Mamelodi Sundowns Slip Up In CAF
Masandawana, the undisputed kings of South African football for years, are facing rare fan fury in the 2025/26 season.
Dropped points, uninspiring draws, no domestic cup finals, and a shaky CAF Champions League group stage have left Masandawana supporters seething.
The throne feels wobbly, and the Yellow Nation is making noise—chanting for Pitso Mosimane's return, slamming coach Miguel Cardoso, and even turning on Sporting Director Flemming Berg.
The flashpoint came after a frustrating 2-2 home draw against Al Hilal in late January 2026, where fans chanted “Pitso! Pitso!” loudly, and reports surfaced of unrest, including alleged attempts to confront Berg—prompting the club to issue a stern statement condemning threats and vowing zero tolerance.
Cardoso has brushed off the pressure, calling some speculation attempts to "hurt Sundowns," but the results aren't helping: a 1-1 away draw to Saint-Éloi Lupopo, missed chances galore, and the team not dominating as expected. X (formerly Twitter) is flooded with raw reactions from fed-up fans:
@mphoalex11: "It's up to us Mamelodi Sundowns fans to save our club. We will have to start go fund for any heroes and heroines that get arrested or charged when they confront Miguel Cardoso and Flemming Berg. We are tired and this is the end. MIGUEL CARDOSO MUST GO."
@SundownsXtra: "From what I hear from Mamelodi Sundowns fans at the stadiums, streets, shops, bars and online: This is where things started to go downhill for this great institution. The sacking of Rulani Mokwena, do you agree member?"
@Gee_Molefe: "Mamelodi Sundowns is once messed up team... we’re officially in a downtrend, not only technical team wise."
@Lufuno_Musanda: "My team mamelodi sundowns is not progressing to the knockout stage this season, but maybe it is the right thing because that will mean the end of cardoso's era in our beloved team."
January’s transfer window was meant to steady the ship at Chloorkop, but the mood around Mamelodi Sundowns tells a deeper story. At a club built on dominance, stability alone is never enough.
Expectations remain sky-high. Anything short of total control — in matches, performances, and trophies — is quickly framed as a crisis.
That tension has been amplified by CAF group-stage struggles, where Sundowns find themselves trailing the leaders and facing the unfamiliar prospect of an early exit. For a club accustomed to deep continental runs, the margin for patience has shrunk dramatically.
Domestically, the numbers still look strong. Sundowns are at or near the summit, grinding out results with machine-like consistency. But among the faithful, results without flair aren’t soothing nerves. The questions are growing louder:
Are the tactics stale?
Do the legs look heavy?
Is recruitment doing enough?
Or does the answer lie in a familiar name — the ever-present Pitso Mosimane reunion dream?
One viral fan sentiment captured the mood perfectly: the biggest institution in South African football cannot afford to feel “mediocre.” Not in performance, not in ambition, not on the continental stage.
As the season run-in approaches, the pressure will only intensify. At Chloorkop, success is never just about winning — it’s about how you win. And if the signs don’t improve soon, expect the noise from the stands and timelines to grow even louder.
