Prøve GULL - Gratis
How Sundowns broke the semi-final curse
Soccer Laduma
|May 15, 2025
Mamelodi Sundowns knocked and kept on knocking. Finally, the door opened, and they broke the curse of the CAF Champions League semi-finals.
-
After years of not being able to get past the Last Four of the competition, the Tshwane giants are now just 180 minutes away from securing another Champions League title. It has not been an easy journey for Masandawana, who have at times been criticised for spending millions in the transfer market with no success on the continent. The title is not in the bag yet, but their persistence and patience in the Champions League have finally paid off, as they overcame a curse that was seemingly haunting them. Soccer Laduma looks at how they finally got it right and what this means for them going into the final.
The experience of Cardoso
Miguel Cardoso was in charge when Esperance reached the CAF Champions League final against AI Ahly last season. With that experience, Mamelodi Sundowns had the experience of someone who could finally break that semifinal curse, which is exactly what the Portuguese mentor did. Wayne Arendse, a 2016 CAF Champions League winner with Sundowns, spoke to Soccer Laduma about the big role Cardoso played in leading the Tshwane giants to the final.
"Obviously, having coach Cardoso there has been important for Sundowns. I am sure his experience of getting to the final last season has helped him. The pedigree of the coach speaks for itself. He was at Esperance last season in the Champions League, so he knows that space very well.
He knows the North Africans, as he has been there, and he understands the culture of that side. He can give the players good advice on what to do against North Africans. Sundowns have players who have played against North African teams, so when you put the two together, then it helps. I think having a coach who knows what playing against North Africans entails was key for them to progress to the final.
He is a coach who likes to win.
Denne historien er fra May 15, 2025-utgaven av Soccer Laduma.
Abonner på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av kuraterte premiumhistorier og over 9000 magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
FLERE HISTORIER FRA Soccer Laduma
Soccer Laduma
The loss against France was a wake-up call
On the Amajita World Cup team Amajita coach Raymond Mdaka has assembled a balanced squad of talented players, most of whom were part of the squad that won the Africa Cup of Nations title earlier this year.
4 mins
October 09, 2025
Soccer Laduma
My Soccer Laduma My favourite thing about Soccer Laduma...
“My favourite thing about Soccer Laduma is the stories you hear from the dressing rooms.
1 min
October 09, 2025
Soccer Laduma
Nobody saw that result coming
Last week I said that this tournament has a way of surprising everyone, and once again, it didn’t disappoint.
1 min
October 09, 2025
Soccer Laduma
They don't have that winning mentality
For many South African football fans, the name Manti Moholo—now known as Manti Mekoa—evokes memories of a fearless, hard-tackling midfielder who gave his all for clubs like Orlando Pirates, Free State Stars, Chippa United and Cape Umoya United. Yet, since hanging up his boots, the former midfield general has taken an unexpected path away from the game that once defined him. In this rare and candid interview with Soccer Laduma’s Delmain Faver, Manti opens up about why he deliberately distanced himself from football, his disillusionment with the way the sport is run, and his rediscovered purpose in business. Still, the love for the game never truly leaves; he remains an avid follower of the Betway Premiership and offers sharp insight into Orlando Pirates’ midfield, Mamelodi Sundowns’ dominance, and the mentality gap he believes exists in modern players.
4 mins
October 09, 2025
Soccer Laduma
Still InTouch With.
“Papi,” welcome back to the second instalment of our Still in Touch With. We heard all about your days at Bush Bucks and your former teammate James Chamanga. What do you have in store for us this week?
3 mins
October 09, 2025
Soccer Laduma
Who's the next Chiefs coach?
As Kaizer Chiefs find their plans for the season disrupted by coach Nasreddine Nabi's departure, the hierarchy will surely be thinking of long-term solutions in the head coach role. Whilst Khalil Ben Youssef and Cedric Kaze are at the helm now, few would consider this solution as anything more than a stopgap. As with all vacancies in the country's big three clubs, the names of Pitso Mosimane, Benni McCarthy and Rhulani Mokwena are linked with the role. All three coaches were consistently named as options for Orlando Pirates in the off-season, but the Sea Robbers went in another direction. Would any of the trio suit the Kaizer Chiefs hotseat? In this feature, we look at what each mentor would bring to the table.
6 mins
October 09, 2025
Soccer Laduma
In Touch With...
RHULANI MANZINI - PHALABORWA UNITED
3 mins
October 09, 2025
Soccer Laduma
All the connections went down the drain
Carrying one of the most iconic surnames in Southern African football, Mike Lota has long lived in the shadow of his late father, the legendary Dennis \"Chesa Mpama\" Lota. Yet for Mike, the name is not a burden, it's a responsibility. The young Zambian-born footballer grew up surrounded by the game, but unlike his father's era, his journey has been shaped by modern challenges, missed opportunities, and a relentless passion to make his own mark. After stints with clubs like Highlands Park and Lioli FC in Lesotho, Mike has found new purpose in the fast-rising world of five-a-side football, where he now represents Pirates Fives, a team dominating the local scene and making waves abroad. In this interview with Soccer Laduma's Delmain Faver, Mike opens up about growing up as the son of a former Orlando Pirates striker, his own setbacks and sacrifices, and how he's determined to build a legacy that's entirely his own.
4 mins
October 09, 2025
Soccer Laduma
Chiefs can get back to the top
Kaizer Chiefs find themselves in another period of transition. With head coach Nasreddine Nabi absent from the team according to the club's latest update last month, Amakhosi have been navigating the campaign under the guidance of assistant coaches Khalil Ben Youssef and Cedric Kaze. Their recent Carling Knockout exit at the hands of Stellenbosch FC - decided via a penalty shootout this past weekend - only underlined the need for stability and direction. For Swedish coach Alan Melke, the situation at Naturena is one he has observed with keen interest. Melke has built a reputation for taking struggling sides and turning them into stable, competitive outfits - a skillset that resonates with Chiefs' current reality. His resume stretches from the grassroots of Sweden's Sixth Division to the elite stage of two FIFA World Cups. One of his links to the PSL comes through Ivan Bukenya, the Ugandan defender he once coached before the player went on to wear the Gold and Black of Amakhosi. In this interview with Soccer Laduma's Masebe Qina, Melke speaks highly of the technical quality of local players, although he believes there is room for improvement. He also reflects on his coaching philosophy, reveals why the Betway Premiership appeals to him, and what attracts him specifically to the Glamour Boys.
6 mins
October 09, 2025
Soccer Laduma
Is the clock ticking for Cardoso?
Miguel Cardoso may have won the Betway Premiership and led Mamelodi Sundowns to the CAF Champions League final, but he is believed to be living on borrowed time at Chloorkop, with pressure mounting following the club's indifferent start to the 2025/26 campaign. Soccer Laduma looks into what's happening behind the scenes at Chloorkop.
4 mins
October 09, 2025
Listen
Translate
Change font size