Williams: Pirates’ Clash Not Title Decider
Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams has downplayed talk of a title decider ahead of the crucial Betway Premiership showdown against Orlando Pirates at FNB Stadium on Wednesday night, insisting the priority is collecting maximum points.
The Brazilians head into the heavyweight encounter sitting second on the table with 32 points from 15 matches, trailing the Buccaneers by six points after the Soweto giants accumulated 38 points from 16 games in what has become a fascinating race for domestic supremacy.
Despite the significance of the fixture, Williams stressed that the result will not determine the destination of the league trophy.
“The most important thing about this game is three points,” Williams said.
“I don’t think it’s about a title decider. There are a lot of games left, and we still have close to 15 games left.
“So, there are a lot of points to play for. This is a three-point encounter, and that is the most important thing, and that’s what we focused on, and we just need to go out there and collect maximum points to close the gap.”
Sundowns are chasing an unprecedented ninth consecutive league crown after dominating the competition for nearly a decade, while Pirates are pushing to end a drought that stretches back to the 2011/12 campaign.
That contrast has added even more intrigue to a fixture that has already delivered drama this season.
The first-round meeting between the two sides ended in a 1-1 draw at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in November last year, while their last clash at FNB Stadium saw Sundowns suffer a 2-1 defeat, with young sensation Relebohile Mofokeng netting a memorable brace last season.
The former SuperSport United goalkeeper also made a heartfelt plea to the club’s supporters to replicate the electric atmosphere that recently lifted the team during their CAF assignment against MC Alger.
“The supporters have been amazing, especially the last few weeks when things were not looking good for us,” Williams added.
“When we played against MC Alger, they were extra motivation; they gave us energy by beating those drums. We need them in these typical times, especially now at the back of the season, where there’s a lot of things to play for.
“We need them, I think the energy that they brought in the game against MC Alger was amazing. I would like to also ask them to come in numbers again to support us because it’s a big and nice game, which is a back-to-back big game as we faced MC Alger.”
With the stakes high and momentum crucial in the closing stages of the campaign, the Bafana Bafana captain’s message is clear: focus on the immediate task, rely on the supporters’ energy, and fight to reduce the gap at the summit.
