Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has expressed his gratitude to the Premier Soccer League (PSL) and Marumo Gallants for agreeing to postpone the club’s opening Betway Premiership fixture as the club continue to mourn the death of midfielder Jayden Adams.
Sundowns had been scheduled to host Gallants in Pretoria on Saturday in their opening match of the 2026/27 Betway Premiership season. However, the fixture has been rescheduled to 18 August, allowing the reigning champions additional time to complete their pre-season programme in Europe following the disruption caused by Adams’ passing.
The midfielder was laid to rest over the weekend, with the club continuing to honour his memory.
Speaking in a pre-recorded message broadcast during the official launch of the new Premiership season, Cardoso thanked both the PSL and Gallants for their understanding.
“We would like, obviously, to congratulate and say thank you very much to the PSL and to Marumo Gallants for allowing us to delay our first championship match,” Cardoso told SuperSport TV.
“Unfortunately, the reasons are not the best ones. We also want everybody to remember Jayden Adams and how we are mourning him, but at the same time, how we are living from the love that he brought to all of us.”
“It is also our obligation to honour him throughout all the competitions. We wish everyone all the best this weekend. Let’s hope we have all the games and let’s hope we all enjoy the season.”
Sundowns to honour Adams throughout the season
Cardoso said Adams’ memory would remain a driving force for Sundowns as they compete across all competitions this season.
The Portuguese coach described the late midfielder as an important figure within the squad and stressed that the team would seek to honour his legacy through its performances on the pitch.
The postponement also enabled Sundowns to adjust their pre-season preparations, which had been interrupted by the tragedy and the subsequent funeral arrangements.
Opening fixture moved to August
With the match postponed, Sundowns and Marumo Gallants will now begin their Betway Premiership campaigns when they meet on 18 August, while the remainder of the league’s opening fixtures proceed as scheduled.
Although Sundowns will not feature on the opening weekend, Cardoso wished every club success for the new season and expressed hope for an uninterrupted campaign.