Mamelodi Sundowns coach Cardoso waters down weight of PSL clash against Orlando Pirates - 'Whatever happens, doesn’t close or open the championship'

Defending Premier Soccer League champions Mamelodi Sundowns have been locked in a tight race with Orlando Pirates.

Masandawana have played 14 games and managed to collect 39 points, which puts them at the summit of the table.

The Sea Robbers have played a game less and collected 11 wins meaning they are trailing the leaders by six points.

On Saturday, Sundowns host Pirates in the Premier Soccer League outing at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Tshwane.

A win for the holders means Bucs will have a tough time chasing them while the opposite will reduce the gap to just three points.

Despite the high stakes ahead of the match, Cardoso insists that will not determine the title race.

He claims it is just another match, with three points on the table.

“I understand how we need to approach the game. That is the most important message we need to pass through to our players,” the former Esperance coach said in a pre-match interview.

“Anyway, we’re in the process of growing the team and for sure it’s under that growth that we gonna approach the game. That is basically what will happen.

“There’s always details that we need to take into consideration. We’ll do it, but it’s just another match of football.

“And whatever happen in the pitch, it’s just another match. It’s just three points; whatever happens, doesn’t close or open the championship.

“It will keep it open until the end for sure to balance two teams that have their qualities," Cardoso concluded.

Definitely, all coaches will be desperate for a win to boost their chances of winning the league.

While Cardoso is still a couple of months old in Mzansi, coach Jose Riveiro has been in the country since the 2022/23 season.

The ongoing campaign is his best shot to end Masandawana's dominance having finished second in the last two editions.