“Let’s not make noise” — Cardoso breaks silence on explosive Komphela-Bianchi clash
Miguel Cardoso is trying to cool the tension before Mamelodi Sundowns and Wiliete meet again.
Details: Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has addressed the alleged post-match clash involving Steve Komphela and Wiliete mentor Beto Bianchi. The incident was reported after Sunday's goalless first leg of their CAF Champions League second preliminary round tie in Angola. Reports claimed there had been a physical confrontation between members of the two technical staffs, while the exact circumstances have not been officially established.
Speaking at Mamelodi Sundowns' open media day at Chloorkop on Wednesday, Cardoso insisted the episode had received far more attention than it deserved. The Portuguese coach stressed that Sundowns had been treated well throughout their stay in Angola and said the relationship between the clubs remained respectful.
“There are two things that I can say. 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 had 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 two sides will settle the tie in Pretoria on Friday, October 23, after the first leg finished 0-0. A place in the CAF Champions League group stage is at stake.
It is worth noting that Mamelodi Sundowns are the reigning African champions. Cardoso's side won the 2025/26 CAF Champions League in May, defeating AS FAR 2-1 on aggregate to claim the trophy for the second time in the club's history.
Reminder: Breaking! Major scandal in Africa! Wiliete coach Beto Bianchi hospitalized after clash with assistant Komphela
Steven Perez
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