Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso says his players will have to produce something special to outplay the in-form Orlando Pirates on Saturday afternoon. The two teams will meet in a Betway Premiership match at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.
Log leaders Sundowns and third-placed Pirates are separated by only three points, but Bucs have two games in hand. The two teams are considered the front-runners for the Premiership title this season.
They’ve already met twice this season in the MTN-8 semifinals, and it took a penalty shootout to separate them. But Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso says they start on a clean slate on Saturday.
“I think both teams developed since then, so there are two things we will be putting on for sure on the pitch. I just wish that in terms of safety that everything goes well. It’s such a big game, and also I hope that Mamelodi Sundowns fans can come in numbers, so that we have the support. We need and hopefully that we are able to have good conditions. Let’s hope the rain keeps away from us,” says Cardoso.
Many believe Pirates, who bombed out of the CAF Champions League, can now focus on domestic football and carefully plot to topple eight-time defending champions, Sundowns.
The Brazilians advanced to the CAF Champions League group stage for an 11th consecutive season and will again have a congested fixture list.
“I think even if they were still in the Champions League, they would still give us a run for our money because of the quality that they have. You could see they could juggle Champions League, league, MTN8 and the national team as well because they’ve got many players in the national team as well. So, I don’t think that changes anything because they’ve got depth in their squad, the quality, they are doing well, I don’t think that changes anything,” says Mamelodi Sundowns defender Aubrey Modiba.
Sundowns will play without a number of key players, and their depth will come under the microscope.
