With Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs youngsters peaking, Mamelodi Sundowns head coach has explained why their youngsters are fluctuating in performances.
Pirates have had the likes of Relebohile Mofokeng, Mohau Nkota and recently Mbezekile Mbokazi playing at a very good level.
While Chiefs have also given responsibilities to youngsters such as Mduduzi Shabalala, Wandile Duba and Mfundo Vilakazi.
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However, the peers at Masandawana appear to be blowing hot and cold, as the likes of Thapelo Maseko and Kutlwano Letlhaku have been featuring in the Diski Challenge and disappeared from the senior team.
Even Malibongwe Khoza, who has shown big potential, has not been playing regularly of late.
Cardoso has explained why it is harder for Sundowns youngsters to play on a consistent level in his team.
"The expectations are from the ones already working with us. What you need to understand how is the process of bringing up a young player? Because young players fluctuate a lot in their performances," Cardoso said in a Nedbank Cup pre-match press conference.
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"And they don't deal the same way with the expectations that are put on them generally. But I think we've been watching some nice things from the players we lined up. (Asekho) Tiwani played against Chiefs in a very good level, he was with us on the bench in the CAF Champions League.
"I was confident to put on 'Mali', he has been playing a lot in our team and we have many more, Kutlwano helped us to arrive to this moment, if you remember the goal we scored at home, in the first game against Raja, it was a pass from Kutlwano in a long ball from Ronwen (Williams)," the Portuguese coach continued.
"So the boys are showing their level but you should understand the youngster should prove himself everyday his quality on the training sessions, you need to push them to the limit and that is why their level flactuates.
"Because when a young boys comes from the process (academy), it's not easy to cope with the expectations and responsibility put on them. So we need to embrace them and protect them," the former Esperance coach added.
