Staff Reporter.
Mamelodi Sundowns can seal the 2020-21 DStv Premiership title if they defeat Tshwane rivals SuperSport United at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Wednesday.
Kick-off is at 5pm.
Sundowns have claimed 26 points from 13 home matches this season, with their last result as hosts a 2-0 win over Maritzburg United earlier this month.
“For us it is always important to focus on our process,” said Sundowns co-coach Manqoba Mngqithi. “Our intention is to achieve our desired targets in the last four matches and it just happens that this game can decide the championship.
“We are not putting any pressure on the players to look at this game as a title decider because we still want the same energy in all our remaining matches this season. For us it is important to win every match that we play and to try and achieve our targets.
“The truth of the matter is that SuperSport returned to winning ways, they are showing good signs and are a very decent team. Bradley Grobler is still the top goalscorer, [Sipho] Mbule has had a wonderful season so we know very well that we aren’t playing a team that will be a pushover.”
SuperSport United broke a 10-game winless run in the league when they defeated Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila 1-0 at home on 12 May, with Grobler netting the goal.
United have claimed 16 points from 13 away matches this season, with their last result on the road a 1-1 draw at Swallows FC in late April.
“We have had enough time to rest and time to get players who struggled with injury back to full fitness,” said SuperSport United head coach Kaitano Tembo. “Coming off a very good win against TTM it would’ve been nice to build on that momentum so we don’t really know how we will do on the day because of the break.
“That said, in terms of preparation the players are looking very good. This is a very important game for us as a team because we want to try and finish as high as possible. This is a key game for us.
“It is a derby, both teams are looking forward to the game I’m sure. We want to finish the season strong, but they are in a position to win the league against us so there is a lot to play for, for both teams.”
In head-to-head terms, United and Sundowns have clashed in 59 league matches since 1990. The Brazilians have dominated the rivalry, claiming 31 wins compared to 15 for Matsatsantsa, while 13 games have been drawn.
Meanwhile Black Leopards will lock horns with Kaizer Chiefs in the DStv Premiership match at the Thohoyandou Stadium in Limpopo on Wednesday.
Kick-off is at 3pm.
Leopards relegation woes continued as they drew 0-0 with Chippa United away on 12 May and they are now winless in their last two matches and Chiefs are coming off a 3-0 defeat to Tanzania’s Simba SC in a CAF Champions League match, but they advanced to the semifinals after winning the quarterfinal tie 4-3 on aggregate.