“Just Think About The Next One”: Cardoso Fires Warning To Chiefs

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso said he could not have asked for a better performance against Polokwane City, emphasising that at this stage of the season, results matter most as their title push intensifies.

Sundowns laid down a marker to rivals Orlando Pirates by moving five points clear at the top of the Betway Premiership table, completing a double over Polokwane with a 3–0 win at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Sunday.

They now sit on 64 points after 27 matches, although they have played one game more than Pirates. The Buccaneers will have a chance to close the gap when they face Stellenbosch FC at Athlone Stadium on Tuesday.

Polokwane faced a daunting task, with Sundowns having lost just once all season—a defeat away to Lamontville Golden Arrows in October. The two sides had also met earlier in the week at Old Peter Mokaba Stadium, where Sundowns edged the result thanks to Marcelo Allende.

“It was pleasing, especially as the performance was clean throughout the match,” Cardoso told SuperSport TV after the game.

“It may have looked like an easy match, but it wasn’t. We did well, and at halftime it was important to make some corrections because there was a lot of man-to-man marking. We needed to move the ball from one side to the other, and those adjustments helped us control the game.

“The players understood the message, took the game very seriously, and it was good to score. But the most important thing is winning.”

Sundowns will next face Kaizer Chiefs in a blockbuster clash at Loftus on Wednesday. By then, the gap at the top could be reduced to two points if Pirates defeat Stellenbosch.

It will be a tough test for Chiefs, with Sundowns having not lost a home league game since May 2024, making Loftus the most feared venue in the Betway Premiership.

Under Cardoso, Sundowns have also maintained a scoring rate of over 1.8 goals per game, underscoring the “relentless” nature he mentions.

“Now it’s about the next match,” Cardoso added.

“It’s important to help the players recover and build on the energy from this win. We’ll assess who is ready to start and focus fully on the next game.”