Players character to play crucial role in title race - Miguel Cardoso

Sundowns are currently three points clear of Pirates on the log, having played one game more, and Bucs’ 8-1 thrashing of Marumo Gallants on Tuesday added another dimension to how tight the race could be. 

The Brazilians won their record seventh championship in a row with six games to spare, and Cardoso reckons their road to eight in a row will not be as simple.

"I don't see anything easy at the moment, but I see character and I trust the character of people," said Cardoso.

"Difficulties are there to overcome and, for sure, we will have difficulties all along our way until the end, but the important thing is the outcome of it, and I'm sure we'll make it in the right way."

Sundowns have won 1-0 in Cardoso’s first three matches in charge, with Iqraam Rayners the sole goal scorer, but the former Esperance mentor believes the team will eventually get goals from other players in the coming matches.

"I'm not really worried, I would be worried if we were not creating as many chances as we did in the last games – we arrived in the box with many players, we had goal situations, and hopefully Iqraam Rayners [continues scoring] goals," he added.

"I believe we will have many more goals to come from different players, we have people that can score goals and they will find them naturally, and Iqraam is important – even if he continues scoring the goals. But we have other players that can score at any moment."

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