Miguel Cardoso Honours Fallen GBV Victims After Mamelodi Sundowns Won FIFA African-Asian-Pacific Cup

• Mamelodi Sundowns defeated Al Ahli 2-1 in the FIFA African-Asian-Pacific Cup, with Nuno Santos scoring a brace to earn Player of the Match honours
• Coach Miguel Cardoso used his post-match press conference to honour late player Jayden Adams and acknowledge the weight of representing people beyond football
• Cardoso's tribute extended to the families of several women whose bodies were discovered in Ekurhuleni amid fears of a serial killer operating in the area

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso turned a moment of sporting triumph into a platform for solidarity, dedicating the club's FIFA African-Asian-Pacific Cup victory to the families of women killed in recent acts of gender-based violence and to the memory of the late Jayden Adams.

The Brazilians beat Al Ahli 2-1 in the second round of the intercontinental tournament, with striker Nuno Santos scoring both goals to earn the Player of the Match award. The result strengthens Sundowns' ambition to leave a mark on the global stage, coming off the back of their CAF Champions League title.

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Miguel Cardoso dedicates Sundowns’ Al-Ahli triumph to late Adams

Cardoso pays tribute at post-match presser

Speaking at his post-match press conference in Pretoria, Cardoso took time to address matters far removed from football. He paid tribute to Adams, a Sundowns player who passed away, and extended his thoughts to victims of gender-based violence following the discovery of multiple women's bodies in Ekurhuleni over recent days.

The grim finding raised alarm that a killer may be targeting women in the area.

"Yesterday, I also spoke about the families of all the women who left us," Cardoso said. "I want to send strength and energy to their loved ones."

Victory carries more than a trophy

For Cardoso, the significance of Sundowns' performance on an international stage comes with a sense of responsibility. He acknowledged that success at this level means representing far more than the club itself, and his choice to dedicate the win reflects that awareness.

The coach's comments underscore a broader conversation in South Africa around gender-based violence, which continues to claim lives at an alarming rate. The Ekurhuleni discoveries added fresh urgency to that crisis in the days leading up to the Sundowns match.

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Miguel Cardoso reveals what Mamelodi Sundowns must get right against Al Ahli in FIFA Cup

Nuno Santos' brace sealed a result that keeps Sundowns on track in the FIFA African-Asian-Pacific Cup, with the club looking to build on their continental dominance and establish themselves as a force in global club football.

Source: Briefly News