Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso says he was disappointed to hear his players being jeered when they warmed up ahead of Tuesday’s Betway Premiership win away at AmaZulu in Durban.
“I didn't like to see the players of Sundowns being booed in the warm-up. I think the Masandawana family needs to keep together,” said Cardoso after Marcelo Allende’s late strike handed them a 1-0 win at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.
“These players work a lot. They don't deserve to enter a pitch to make a warm up in a match like this and being booed or for the fans to call for them to be substituted.”
Cardoso insister he had no favourites among the players, despite what some supporters are alleging.
“The coach of Sundowns has no sons in the team, the coach of Sundowns relates to the strategies and the moments and the players available. and gives energy to everybody in the same way.
“Not because one is Portuguese or South American. Or South African, or white, or black, or yellow or whatever. We don't relate to that.
"That is something we overcame many years ago, since I was born, my family gave me education to look at people as human beings, not different from any kind of reason,” he continued.
“And I think it's very important that people understand that. No player has any special privileges in the team.
“What we do (with team selection) is to relate to the moments. There are moments for ones, moments for the others, and that's what we do. Believe me, what I want is the best for Mamelodi Sundowns, and it's hard work we do together every day.
“And if the family of the supporters, together with the players, understand the way we are doing things, we can achieve good things, but we need to be committed with everybody together, together, together, together.”
Cardoso said Sunday’s next league clash against Sekhukhune United would be another tough assignment.
“We need the support of our fans. I don't need, but the players they do need. I'm not speaking for myself because I know that coaches, obviously, they are liked if they win, they are disliked if they don't win.
"Obviously, it's very easy to like the coach when he wins, but it’s important that people are supported in all the moments because we make a very serious job,” the Sundowns coach added.