Mamelodi Sundowns train with non-playing squad member Reyaad Pieterse leading the proceedings at Chloorkop.

Image: BackpagePix

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has warned his players that their CAF Champions League title defence faces an early test when they travel to Angola to face Wiliete on Sunday.

The Brazilians meet the Angolan outfit in the second preliminary round, with kick-off scheduled for 5pm, knowing they will face a side enjoying an impressive start to its domestic campaign.

Wiliete currently top the Girabola standings with 16 points from six matches and remain unbeaten, making them a potentially dangerous opponent despite their relatively low profile on the continental stage.

Sundowns received a bye in the first preliminary round because of their high seeding, while Wiliete secured their place in the second round after beating Seychelles side Foresters 5-0 on aggregate.

Cardoso has urged his team to approach the tie with the seriousness it demands, warning that Wiliete’s domestic form makes them a threat that cannot be dismissed.

“We should respect this qualifying round in a very strong and aggressive way. The draw was not friendly,” Cardoso said.

“Sometimes we face teams where we know, ‘We will do it’, but this is a tough one, and they (Wiliete) are leading the Angolan championship.

“After we arrived back from Durban, we were already studying them, and it’s obvious that they’re a team that will create problems for us, and we need to be focused.”

Sundowns head into the assignment after a demanding spell that included their MTN8 triumph over Orlando Pirates and their Betway Premiership fixture against Richards Bay.

With domestic and continental commitments piling up, Cardoso is also preparing to manage his squad carefully to keep his players fresh during a congested period.

The Portuguese coach has already called on supporters to trust the technical team’s selection decisions, explaining that rotation will be guided by players’ fitness, readiness and motivation.

The challenge will be maintaining Sundowns’ competitive standards while giving the squad enough recovery time to cope with the schedule.

For the defending champions, Sunday’s first leg presents an opportunity to establish an advantage before the return fixture, but Cardoso’s message is clear: Wiliete’s form demands respect, and Sundowns cannot afford to approach the tie with complacency.

Their Champions League ambitions will depend on how effectively they handle this early obstacle, particularly away from home against an opponent yet to taste defeat in its domestic league this season.