Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso secured his first domestic knockout title with the club on Saturday, guiding his side to a 2-0 victory over Orlando Pirates in the MTN8 final. The triumph marked his fourth trophy since taking charge of the South African giants.

The Portuguese tactician has now added the MTN8 crown to his collection, which already includes the Betway Premiership title, the CAF Champions League and the Africa-Asia-Pacific trophy from the FIFA Intercontinental Cup.

Despite occasional criticism, particularly after Sundowns surrendered the league title to Orlando Pirates last season and suffered defeat against Pyramids in the previous Champions League final, Cardoso has continued to deliver silverware for the club.

His record also places him ahead of every other coach in Mamelodi Sundowns’ PSL-era history in terms of win percentage across their first 100 matches in charge.

The MTN8 final marked Cardoso’s 101st game at the helm. Across his first 100 matches, he recorded 64 victories, 24 draws and 12 defeats, giving him an impressive 64% win rate.

Cardoso’s 64% win rate places him ahead of the next-best record, held jointly by Manqoba Mngqithi and Rulani Mokwena, who each won 63% of their first 100 matches in charge. Ted Dumitru recorded a 58% success rate over his opening 100 games, while Pitso Mosimane managed 57%.

Saturday’s MTN8 triumph also extended Cardoso’s unbeaten record against Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou. Across their five meetings, Mamelodi Sundowns have secured two victories, with the other three encounters ending in draws.

Ouaddou will be looking to improve that record as Pirates aim to defend their Betway Premiership title this season.

Reflecting on his team’s achievements, Cardoso expressed his satisfaction at securing two trophies by October.

“I think it’s an amazing achievement, and it’s fantastic to arrive in October with two trophies on the back,” the Portuguese coach said.

Cardoso urged his players to remain grounded and maintain their work ethic despite their recent success, warning that more difficult challenges lie ahead.

“We need to stay humble, keep working hard and understand that without hard work, we will never achieve anything. We already have another match in two days, followed by a very tough Champions League qualifying round,” he said.

The Sundowns coach also highlighted the team’s improved attacking options and praised his players for their attitude and understanding of the demands of competition.

“We have more options in attack now. I’m very happy with the way the players understand how they need to compete. It’s not about who they are, but what they become when they compete, and that is the most important thing for us,” Cardoso added.

Mamelodi Sundowns will have little time to celebrate their MTN8 triumph, as they return to Betway Premiership action on Tuesday with an away fixture against Richards Bay.