NOT DONE YET The Betway Premiership title is far from decided insists Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso. Picture: Khaled Desouki/AFP
Image: Khaled Desouki/AFP
It may not be the biggest game in SA football like the Soweto Derby last weekend, but the clash between Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates promises to have far greater impact on the title race in the Betway Premiership.
Sundowns host the Buccaneers on Saturday at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria, and a victory for either side will see a six-point swing.
Sundowns currently top the table on 39 points, six ahead of Pirates. The Brazilians, though, have played 14 matches and Pirates 13.
Therefore the match is being viewed by many as a potential title-decider, but not by Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso.
"Everybody is aware a positive result will give us a good advantage, a draw will keep three points advantage depending on a match Pirates will play,” said Cardoso on Thursday in a press conference.
“A defeat will give us a similar number of points ahead of them.”
Sundowns have won the last seven league titles in a row, and Pirates were last crowned champions in 2012.
To their credit though. Pirates have not drawn a single match in the league this season while they have collected 11 victories and lost just twice. That alone seems to indicate they will compete strongly in the second half of the season.
Meanwhile, Cardoso envisaged a battle for top honours in the coming games.
"I believe the championship will continue to be tough, whatever happens in this game. No team will give up and both teams can still achieve results.
“There is another match to play against Pirates and other games. If we don't put everything in every match, we can lose points. I expect a tough match and an open championship after that."