Miguel Cardoso Finally Responds to Favouritism Claims Involving Mamelodi Sundowns Star

• Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso addressed claims of favouritism surrounding winger Tashreeq Matthews
• Matthews scored once and provided two assists as Sundowns beat AmaZulu 5-2 at Loftus Versfeld Stadium
• Cardoso explained why Matthews was left out of the previous match and what brought him back into the starting line-up

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has spoken out against accusations of favouritism towards winger Tashreeq Matthews, insisting the 25-year-old earns his place through performance rather than preferential treatment.

The Portuguese tactician addressed the matter following Wednesday's Premier Soccer League fixture at Loftus Versfeld Stadium, where Sundowns defeated AmaZulu 5-2. Matthews was named Man of the Match after a standout display that included one goal and two assists, directly influencing three of the five goals Masandawana scored.

**Cardoso Hits Back at Favouritism Claims**

Speaking to the media after the match, Cardoso was unequivocal in his defence of the attacker. "Tashreeq is one of the most criticised players in this club, but he's doing things well. Tashreeq grew throughout the season. I'm not Tashreeq's father of Tashreeq as people keep saying, 'ah, the coach just puts [him on]'. No, no, no! I deal with performance," he said.

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The coach also pointed to a recent occasion when Matthews was dropped, citing a lack of readiness in training. "He was consistent in showing in training sessions that he deserved to play. And he played; when he doesn't show, he stays out. Last match, he stayed because he was not strong enough during the preparation, so he stayed out."

Cardoso suggested Matthews' return to form could partly be attributed to physical freshness. "Maybe he's fresher, and that's why he performed. Because fatigue also obviously affects the capacity to produce stable behaviours."

**'The Ones We Have Are the Best in the World'**

The Sundowns coach also used the occasion to speak about a broader philosophy around supporting players through mistakes rather than condemning them. He acknowledged Matthews had missed scoreable chances at the Club World Cup and in the cup final against Pyramids, but argued that resilience matters more than errors.

"After you fail, it's important how you react. That speaks for you, not the mistake you made," Cardoso said.

He went further, calling on his staff, club and supporters to back the players unconditionally. "If I allow my coaches, or I allow my club, or I allow my fans or our fans to criticise our own players, we cannot. We need to support, support, support! Because they're the ones we have, and the ones we have are the most important players for us. And for us they are the best in the world."

Source: Briefly News