“Not In Our Hands” – Cardoso

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso admits the Betway Premiership title race is no longer entirely in their hands after his side dropped crucial points in the battle for league glory this week.

The Brazilians were held to a disappointing 1-1 draw by Kaizer Chiefs at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Wednesday evening, a result that could hand Orlando Pirates a major advantage in the title race.

Sundowns came into the match looking to build momentum after securing back-to-back victories against Polokwane City as they aimed to strengthen their title ambitions.

Despite the draw, the Tshwane giants remain top of the table with 65 points, three ahead of Pirates, who still have a game in hand and a superior goal difference.

Sundowns are chasing a remarkable ninth consecutive league title, while Pirates are hoping to win the championship for the first time since the 2011/12 season.

Following the result against Chiefs, Cardoso openly acknowledged that Sundowns must now focus on winning their remaining matches and hope other results go in their favour.

“Regarding the league, our obligation is to get the six points ahead of us and wait to see what the outcome will be,” said Cardoso.

“We will recover the players because we will be playing again in two days against Siwelele FC, and they beat Chiefs 2-0.

“I think that means we need to approach this match at a high level, and we also have some players we lost due to injuries.”

The Portuguese coach also praised his players for their determination after Sundowns were reduced to 10 men in the second half following Jayden Adams’ sending-off.

“I am so proud of the boys, and I remember we once played here with 10 players and won the game against Golden Arrows,” he added.

“We struggled in that game, but against Chiefs, the commitment was so strong. We went all out for the result.

“Obviously, we felt that we would have finished the second half on another level if both teams had 11 players each.

“He was not trying to get a penalty; we should understand the nature of these situations. But I think the boys did well in terms of their commitment, especially in the first half when we controlled the game. But it is what it is — we take the one point.”

Sundowns will now shift their attention to a crucial clash against Siwelele FC at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Saturday before wrapping up their league campaign against TS Galaxy.

Pirates, meanwhile, still have three fixtures remaining against Magesi FC, Durban City, and Orbit College as the title race heads towards a dramatic conclusion.