Former Pirates coach on what will be deciding factor in Betway Prem title race
Former Orlando Pirates coach Roger De Sa has revealed what will be the deciding factor in the Betway Premiership title race.
Mamelodi Sundowns have emerged as hot-favourites to win the league after claiming the crown for seven seasons in a row.
In their last match, Masandawana improved their chances of defending the league title after defeating Golden Arrows 4-0 at Loftus Versfeld Stadium this past weekend. Peter Shalulile scored a brace in the second half, while Lucas Ribeiro and Teboho Mokoena scored the two goals for the Tshwane giants.
The victory over the KZN-based side gave Downs a six-point advantage at the summit of the log after 13 matches played.
The Brazilians have collected 36 points, while second-placed Pirates are on 30 points with one game in hand. In their most recent league game, Pirates showed their mettle as they scored late to beat arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs 1-0 in the Soweto Derby at FNB Stadium.
After having an impressive start to the 2024/25 season with 10 wins in 12 league games, The Buccaneers are challenging Sundowns, aiming to end their dominance in the Premiership.
So far, Pirates and Sundowns are involved in a fierce fight for the league honours, while Stellenbosch FC, Sekhukhune United and Polokwane City FC are also making a push.
DE SA BELIEVES THAT INJURIES AND SQUAD ROTATION WILL DECIDE THE TITLE RACE
Roger De Sa believes that the title race will be won by a team that manages their injuries and squad rotation better between Sundowns and Pirates.
Both sides are participating in the CAF Champions League after qualifying for the quarter-final stages a few weeks ago. They are also in the Nedbank Cup Last 16 after winning their respective ties in the first round.
“I still maintain that if there’s a season where Pirates has real chances 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.”
Sundowns and Pirates will clash in a mouth-watering league encounter at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Saturday, 8th of February 2025. Kickoff is at 15:30.
RELATED STORY:Â Rulani Mokwena not a fan of player rotation