“History To Be Written”: Cardoso Demands Ruthlessness
Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has urged his side to remain ruthless and focused in the Betway Premiership title race, while sending a clear warning to rivals Orlando Pirates about the importance of consistency.
Sundowns strengthened their position at the top of the table with an emphatic 3–0 victory over Polokwane City on Sunday, moving five points clear of second-placed Pirates.
This 3-0 win marks Sundowns’ 18th clean sheet of the season, a testament to Cardoso’s defensive structure despite the rotation.
The Brazilians now sit on 64 points from 27 matches, while the Buccaneers have 59 points from 26 games and still hold a match in hand.
Despite the advantage, Cardoso made it clear that his team cannot afford complacency as they chase another league title.
“I think we need to secure all the points we can. This is history to be written, and we have to do it if we want to succeed and not depend on other teams,” he said.
“We must focus on ourselves and continue performing at a high level, as we have been doing, because we are now at a stage where every game is of the highest intensity.
“We understand the situation and will do everything possible to overcome the big challenge ahead of us.
“It may look like there are three matches left, but it is just a week and a half, so we need to be very strong in our approach, as we have been, and we will continue in that way.”
Sundowns’ run-in includes a crucial clash against Kaizer Chiefs on Wednesday, followed by fixtures against Siwelele and TS Galaxy—matches that could ultimately decide the destination of the title.
If Sundowns beat Chiefs on Wednesday and Pirates drop points in their game-in-hand, Sundowns’ “Magic Number” for clinching the title drops to three points.
Cardoso also addressed recent concerns about his side’s scoring struggles, having netted just once in several previous matches and failed to score in a goalless draw against Richards Bay FC before their latest performance.
“If you look at how teams are playing, it is not easy to score goals when they sit deep and defend in numbers, especially away from home when the pitch conditions are not ideal,” he added.
“That affects the quality of the game and consistency in our away performances.
“Against Polokwane City, the grass was higher than usual, but we watered it because it is important to protect the pitch and ensure we can play the kind of football we want until the end of the season.
“There are moments in a season when teams become very defensive, so you need to focus on results, and I think the team has done well.
“Unfortunately, we had two draws, but the performances were good, and now we must look ahead to Wednesday’s match.”
The latest victory also completed a dominant double over Polokwane City within five days, following a 1–0 win in midweek at Old Peter Mokaba Stadium.
With momentum on their side and a strong message sent to Pirates, Sundowns appear determined to finish the job on their own terms as the title race enters its decisive final stretch.
