Cardoso spoke out after Sundowns edged Motsepe Foundation Championship side Gomora United 2-1 in a tense Last 32 encounter at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in midweek.

While Masandawana progressed in the competition, the Portuguese mentor used the occasion to highlight what he believes are deeper structural problems within the local game.

Sundowns struck first through Namibian striker Peter Shalulile in the opening half, but Gomora punished a defensive lapse by Malibongwe Khoza to level matters just before the interval. The Brazilians eventually secured the win in the second half when wing-back Thapelo Morena headed home from a pinpoint Jayden Adams cross.

Despite the result, Cardoso remains under pressure following Sundowns' inconsistent domestic form and a disappointing 2-1 CAF Champions League defeat to Al Hilal in Group C a week ago.

Speaking after the cup tie, the under-fire coach shifted focus from results to what he described as worrying matchday practices.

"We need to create good conditions for this show that we are part of," Cardoso told journalists after the match.

"You (the media) have an important role to promote the important side of the game, not things that are not important."

Cardoso went on to allege that certain club officials meet with referees on matchdays, suggesting such interactions should be a cause for concern within the Premier Soccer League (PSL).

Beyond officiating, the Sundowns coach called for sweeping reforms to improve the overall standard of football in South Africa, pointing to development models he experienced in Portugal.

He highlighted investment in academies, mandatory infrastructure improvements such as synthetic pitches, the inclusion of women's teams at top-flight clubs and fairer distribution of broadcast revenue.

"There are many things that can be done. If the game becomes better, we sell more of the show, and everything improves - including the introduction of VAR," he added.

Cardoso concluded by urging stakeholders to focus on protecting the credibility of the game, warning that governance issues off the pitch could undermine progress made on it.

Meanwhile, Cardoso and his charges will be looking to bounce back from their defeat against Al Hilal in the Champions League when they take on Saint-Eloi Lupopo in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Sunday.

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