Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has shared his thoughts on how Peter Shalulile’s early introduction helped turn the game in their favor during Sunday’s 4-0 win over Golden Arrows. The Namibian striker came on for Sphelele Mkhulise before halftime, immediately winning a penalty and later scoring twice.
Sundowns started the game slowly, but once Shalulile entered, the team’s energy shifted as Cardoso adjusted his tactics.
Cardoso explained: “Sometimes the final result reflects the players’ hard work, but it’s not always as easy as it may seem. It wasn’t an easy game; we had to work hard to score. The first half was tricky because our opponent changed their approach and closed down spaces, playing a more defensive block than we anticipated.”
He continued, “We had to adapt, and even before making substitutions, we tried to tweak things. We knew we needed to push forward more in defense. When we moved Kodisang from the middle to the right, it created a fresh tactical approach, but it was clear we needed more presence up front.”
It was at this point that Shalulile came on, and it made a significant impact. “He gave us more aggression, and we scored, which was a big emotional lift before halftime. We then reorganized and planned for the second half,” said Cardoso.
The coach also addressed Mkhulise’s substitution, assuring him it wasn’t due to poor performance. “A substitution doesn’t mean the player is having a bad game; it’s a tactical decision. The team’s strategy is more important than individual performance. I explained to Pitso that he didn’t come off because he played badly, but because we needed to approach the game differently. If I had known the opponent would play that way, I would have started the game differently.”
Cardoso emphasized that the decision was purely tactical and not a reflection of Mkhulise’s effort.
