Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has acknowledged the delicate balancing act he faces in ensuring no player suffers a significant injury ahead of the CAF Champions League final, while simultaneously navigating the ongoing league title challenge.

Sundowns took a significant step towards securing their eighth consecutive Betway Premiership title by defeating bottom-placed Cape Town City 2-0 at DHL Stadium on Saturday night.

This victory extended Sundowns’ lead over second-placed Orlando Pirates to 12 points. Pirates had earlier triumphed 2-1 against Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium on the same day. However, Sundowns have played two more matches than Pirates.

Despite their Champions League final qualification last week, Cardoso maintained a strong core of his team for the Cape Town City game.

Their strategy is to clinch the league title early, allowing them to fully concentrate on the prestigious African club football tournament – the Champions League final against Egyptian side Pyramids in a two-legged affair scheduled for later this month and next month.

Cardoso, who succeeded Manqoba Mngqithi in December of the previous year, described the difficulty of managing both competitions simultaneously. He emphasized the need to respect each league fixture as the title is not yet mathematically secured.

“That is exactly the challenge that we have, because we need to approach each match with great respect, as we cannot predict potential dropped points along the way,” Cardoso explained.

“So, as we progress and draw closer to our desired objectives, each game that passes brings us nearer. However, there is still a considerable distance to cover, and we still need to accumulate points.

“We hold immense respect for our upcoming matches as we navigate this situation. Despite the balancing act, we are trying to manage the team carefully. We also need to channel the full energy of the team and the players onto the pitch, as no one wants to be sidelined at this crucial moment.

“We have to contend with the consequences of yellow cards and suspensions. We still have Rivaldo Coetzee and Siyabonga Mabena injured, while Mothobi Mvala has rejoined the group for training.

“Therefore, we feel confident that if we need to rotate players to manage fatigue, we have the depth and trust in our entire squad.

“I believe that is a core value we have cultivated in the locker room – trust in our work, trust among ourselves, and trust in the players. This ensures that when we replace any player, the team doesn’t suffer emotionally or lose quality because they have faith in the abilities of their teammates.

“To illustrate, on Saturday, Grant Kekana informed me he wanted to be substituted to avoid potential injury, and Mali [Khoza] came on and performed wonderfully. He also started the previous game [against Richards Bay], so I have complete confidence in all our players.

“I believe Flemming Berg [sporting director] has done a tremendous job in assembling this group of players who assure us that anyone can step up and play a PSL match.

“We approached the game with great respect and humility. Humility is a crucial value, keeping us grounded and focused on our present tasks rather than past achievements. I will not instruct the boys to hold back, as it is vital to finish the league championship strongly, especially with the Champions League final and the Club World Cup on the horizon.

“We need to remain strong, continue to respect the game, and respect our opponents. It might seem straightforward, but this game was far from easy.”

Sundowns secured their victory against Cape Town City with goals from Cape Town natives Tashreeq Matthews and Iqraam Rayners.