By Michael Madyira
Mamelodi Sundowns will be confirmed as the 2023/24 Premier Soccer League champions if they beat Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium on Thursday night.
Victory for the Brazilians will see them reach an unassailable 62 points and seal a record-extending seventh consecutive title with six matches to go.
But Chiefs stand in their way and could delay Sundowns’ title confirmation should the game end in a draw or defeat for the Brazilians.
Spurring Amakhosi going into the FNB contest is their 2-1 victory over SuperSport United last weekend that ended a five-match winless streak.
“We are known as Kaizer Chiefs,” coach Cavin Johnson told the media.
“We got a good result against SuperSport but that does not give us the right to sit back … and say that the game that we are going to play on Thursday is going to be a walk in the park.”
Acknowledging they have a difficult task ahead, Johnson said the team needs to earn maximum points.
Chiefs still have a slim chance of ending the season in the top-four and that is what they are playing for in their remaining five matches.
“I think it is going to be a very tough game for both teams,” the Amakhosi trainer added.
“I hope that whatever analysis that we do, we will be able to nullify [Sundowns] and win the game because it is our home game.”
However, a daunting challenge for the Soweto giants is that they will be meeting a team who are undefeated in the PSL this season.
Masandawana has not lost a league match since Rhulani Mokwena took over as head coach in October 2022 and is on an awe-inspiring 47-match unbeaten streak.
Being confirmed as PSL champions on Thursday will be a reprieve for Sundowns following last week’s agonising exit from the CAF Champions League at the hands of Esperance.
Pictured above: Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Edson Castillo challenges Marcelo Allende of Mamelodi Sundowns.
Image source: Kaizer Chiefs
