Mamelodi Sundowns' head coach Miguel Cardoso remains unfazed by the challenges posed by title rivals Orlando Pirates, who currently have three games in hand on Sundowns. Despite Pirates’ additional fixtures, Cardoso believes the true strength lies with points already secured on the board.
After Sundowns tightened their grip on the top of the table with a resounding 4-1 victory over 10-man TS Galaxy at Lucas Moripe Stadium, Cardoso addressed concerns about the competitive nature of the league and the significance of rivals’ schedules. Iqraam Rayners was the standout performer, netting two goals, alongside contributions from Peter Shalulile and Jayden Adams. Sphiwe Mahlangu provided the sole consolation for the Rockets.
Reflecting on the title race, Cardoso stated, "I don’t look at the schedule of Pirates, I don’t know [their situation exactly]. I know they have some games behind, so they have to play these games at some time but I don’t know if we can win ours until then... Eventually, it can be an advantage for us, but if we also lose points it will not be an advantage. So let’s wait and see.”
With Sundowns sitting on 48 points from 18 matches, their 12-point lead over Pirates, who have 36 points from 15 games, is substantial. The coach emphasized the need for his team to stay focused on their own matches as they navigate the remaining fixtures of the season.
Cardoso made it clear he’s not preoccupied with maintaining awareness of Pirates’ schedule, instead opting to concentrate on Sundowns’ performance. He remarked on the fluctuative nature of football, positing, "We got an advantage after our match [when we beat Pirates 4-1 two weeks ago] and two days after we lost those three points to Galaxy away. So we need to focus on our job.”
Looking forward, Sundowns are set to play Sekhukhune United next at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Wednesday at 7:30 PM. This match will act as another significant step for Sundowns as they aim to extend their lead and maintain their position at the top of the league.
Cardoso also touched upon the upcoming CAF Champions League quarterfinal, where Sundowns will face his former club Esperance Sportive de Tunis. Despite the tournament looming, he stressed the importance of not letting its impending nature distract from the league campaign. "We need to continue to win games so we can, obviously, have many points to win the league – but there’s a lot of games,” he noted, capturing the necessity for focus and performance.
While acknowledging the challenges presented by rivals like Orlando Pirates, Cardoso remains steadfast, guiding his team with unwavering focus on their next games. With plenty still to come, Sundowns are focused on building on their current form, one game at a time.