As the race for Betway Premiership glory heats up, former Orlando Pirates coach Roger de Sa believes that the club that manages its players better will win the title.
Mamelodi Sundowns have been the dominant force in South African football in recent years, winning seven consecutive PSL titles, and are looking to continue their dominance this season.
They currently lead the log table with 36 points from 13 matches, while Pirates sit second with 30 points from 12 matches, desperate to end their decade-long league drought.
Teams such as Polokwane City, Sekhukhune United, Kaizer Chiefs and Stellenbosch FC are also still running to claim the title.
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However, Pirates and Sundowns are the favourites to clinch the title as they are leading the league table. Both teams have also progressed to the quarter-final of the Caf Champions League.
According to former Pirates coach Roger de Sa, who led the Buccaneers from 2012 to 2014, the team that manages its players better will ultimately clinch the title this season.
“I still maintain that if there’s a season where Pirates has a real chance of winning the league, it is this season. I think it will come down to injuries and fatigue in Africa,” De Sa told FARPost.
“Whichever club manages their players better will probably get the edge at the end because the next three to four months will be crucial. Right now, Pirates and Sundowns are in the mix of CAF Champions League, and they’ll have fixtures that are going to be challenging.
“So, the challenge will be playing a lot of matches, travelling up and down Africa and coming to play tricky domestic matches. I think it will come down to that, just managing your squad properly.
“I think it’s going to be a two-horse race, and like I said earlier, Pirates have a realistic chance of beating Sundowns to the championship for a change.”
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