Cardoso concedes Chiefs & Pirates pressure is making PSL tough

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso is anticipating a tough Premier Soccer League season thanks to the exploits by the Soweto giants, Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates.

Masandawana have played 12 games, collecting 25 points in the process that have put them top of the table. The Buccaneers, who have palyed just nine matches, are placed second with three points less.

The Glamour Boys are third with 22 points as well, the only difference is that they have an inferior goal difference. Amakhosi have played 11 games meaning it is the Sea Robbers who have more matches in hand.

Orlando Pirates players in training. Photo Orlano Pirates

Cardoso predicts a tough league campaign, as opposed to the previous ones where the Brazilians have not faced a real threat in their quest to win the South African top tier crown.

PSL competition has raised

“I said that the league will be tough. What I mean is the competition has raised a level. You saw both Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs making a very strong preseason, going abroad to find opponents, bringing the players as quick as possible, making a very strong market. You see this team of Pirates changing players and you don’t feel the difference,” Cardoso told the media.

“They can give the luxury to stay out with [Kamogelo] Sebelebele, and that has been one of the most important players on the team. And Rele [Relebohile Mofokeng] that last year was fighting for the best player of the league with Lucas Ribeiro and you don’t feel the difference because it’s clear that the depth of this squad is much bigger than it was in the recent past. That has to do with the market that was done in summer.

Gaston Sirino Flavio Silva and Mduduzi Shabalala Kaizer Chiefs

“And Kaizer Chiefs I say the same. You saw… they won the game from the bench with the high-quality players entering and enforcing. [Gaston] Sirino now is going on the bench. So, it goes along with the question I received about South African football teams are raising their level. So, when the level raises is obvious that the things will be more equal.

“We didn’t start the season in the best way we should have started in terms of conditions that we have to start it. So, we have also to cope with that. So, when I spoke that I knew that that our beginning would be difficult. I think now and only now, we start to have conditions to grow this team to the level that we want to grow,” he concluded.