Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has called for greater support for Tashreeq Matthews, insisting the forward’s mistakes should not overshadow the qualities that have made him an important player for the Brazilians.
Matthews goes into Sunday’s MTN8 clash after playing a starring role in Sundowns’ Betway Premiership victory over AmaZulu at Loftus Stadium on Wednesday, where he was named Man of the Match.
Yet his relationship with the Sundowns faithful has not always been straightforward.
The forward has endured periods of frustration from supporters, particularly when chances have gone begging, despite producing important moments since joining the club.
Cardoso believes some of the criticism directed at Matthews has been excessive and wants the focus to shift towards how the 25-year-old responds when things do not go his way.
“I also think that Tashreeq is too criticised, too criticised because sometimes he wants to do well. I know that in the World Cup there was a goal he could have scored, in the final against Pyramids there was a goal he could have scored,” Cardoso said.
The Sundowns coach was referring to moments that have continued to follow Matthews, including missed opportunities at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with Bafana Bafana and in Sundowns’ CAF Champions League final against Pyramids.
But rather than dwelling on those misses, Cardoso believes Matthews’ reaction afterwards tells him more about the player.
“Yes, there was but the question isn’t the one that he didn’t score, it’s the ones that he scores after he fails because today I embraced him and told him exactly that,” he added.
“It’s not important after you fail, it’s important how you react that speaks for you, not the mistake you made.”
That message could be particularly important as Sundowns prepare for another demanding stretch of fixtures, with Sunday’s MTN8 encounter providing Matthews with another opportunity to win over supporters.
Cardoso accepts that Matthews must improve and learn from his mistakes, but believes that process requires support rather than constant criticism.
“Mistakes you have to avoid and obviously grow from them but how you show your character as you finish the match continuously playing the way he had to play and this is how we need to support our players.”
For Matthews, the challenge is therefore not simply to score goals.
It is also to maintain the confidence and personality required to remain influential for a Sundowns side competing for trophies on multiple fronts.
And after his latest performance against AmaZulu, Cardoso appears keen for the forward to be judged on the complete picture — not just the chances he fails to take.
@SmisoMsomi
IOL Sport
