Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso believes the 2025/26 Betway Premiership will be tougher than ever, with the level of competition rising significantly — particularly from Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs.
The three PSL giants currently occupy spots in the top four of the Premiership standings. Sundowns lead the way with 22 points from 11 matches, followed by Pirates in third with 19 points from nine games, and Chiefs in fourth, also on 19 points after 10 outings.
“When I say the league is going to be tough, I mean clubs have raised the level,” said Cardoso.
He pointed to Pirates and Chiefs’ improved preparation and recruitment as key factors behind the stronger competition.
“You must have seen that both Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs had strong preseasons, going abroad to find quality opponents,” he explained. “They were active in the transfer market — Pirates made changes, but you can hardly feel the difference.
“They have the luxury of leaving out players like Kamogelo Sebelebele and Relebohile Mofokeng, who was competing for the Best Player Award with Lucas Ribeiro last season. That shows their squad depth is far greater than in previous years, thanks to smart recruitment during the transfer window.”
Cardoso also highlighted Chiefs’ growing strength and depth, noting that their late win over Durban City demonstrated their bench quality.
“I see the same with Chiefs,” he said. “On Friday, they won the match through players coming off the bench — top-quality players. Even Gaston Sirino is now on the bench.
“It ties into what I’ve been saying about South African football — the overall level is rising. And when that happens, things become more competitive and balanced.”
Despite Sundowns sitting at the top of the table, their performances have not always impressed fans this season. Cardoso acknowledged the frustrations and admitted that emotions ran high during their 1-1 draw with Pirates on Saturday.
“Of course, we wanted to win the game,” he said. “If you were in the dressing room at halftime, you’d understand how much we wanted to win. There’s no defensive mentality in me — that’s nonsense. We wanted to bring energy and intensity to win the match.
“At halftime, I was hard on the players about their mindset and attitude. I reminded them that no one can kill our spirit, especially after conceding early.”
Cardoso praised his players for their resilience and fighting spirit despite missing several key figures.
“They were brave — they fought,” he added. “When you have players like Themba Zwane, Mothobi Mvala, Thapelo Morena, Miguel Reisinho, Teboho Mokoena, Divine Lunga, Lebogang Mothiba, Malibongwe Khoza, and Kutlwano Latlhaku, it’s clear the team isn’t at full strength.
“But I don’t complain because what I saw was character. We could have connected better on the field, and we know we can improve. Still, it was probably two of the best teams in the league competing on that pitch.”
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