‘Fight’ involving Komphela, Wiliete coach a non-issue, says Cardoso

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso insists the alleged altercation between senior coach Steve Komphela and Wiliete coach Beto Bianchi is not a big issue and will not affect their CAF Champions League second round return leg at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Friday (8pm).

Komphela and Bianchi were reportedly involved in a post-match tunnel bust-up after their goalless draw in the first leg in Angola on Sunday, with claims the incident turned physical and escalated to alleged racial abuse.

It was also alleged Bianchi was kicked in a “sensitive area” while leaving the change room for a press conference and was later hospitalised.

Cardoso, however, downplayed the incident, urging people to stop blowing the situation out of proportion.

“There are two or three things I can say: the first one is that small things can sometimes become big things obviously when you give it too much attention. I think that was [given] too much attention than necessary,” Cardoso explained to the media during a press conference at Chloorkop on Wednesday.

“Secondly, as a club, we were very well received in Angola, and we worked very well until the last minute when we entered the flight.

“Football has a lot to deal with emotions. They sometimes drop out from the glass; it doesn’t mean that the glass is broken or the water is spoilt — it is just a little bit of emotions.

“And we’ve already overcome that, and for sure it will be a beautiful match on Friday.

“I spoke to the (Wiliete) coach before the press conference after the match and we had an absolutely normal talk. We hope that this time there won’t be extra energy from both sides rather than on the pitch because that’s where teams have to fight. Let’s not make noise over things that are very small. There are so many things that happen in football that we don’t speak about.”

After the first leg finished goalless in Angola, Cardoso said they will treat this match as a cup final, as a win will see them progress to the group phase.

“I see it that way: two teams that want to move forward. We know if we win, we go through, goalless draw we go to penalties, and a score draw we are out,” he said.

“But I said finals are to be won and we need to play the best way we can to achieve results that will allow us to go to the next stage of the competition.”