Cardoso gets feet into decisive dozen days lap at Sundowns

Miguel Cardoso will start the first of a dozen decisive days in his trophy hunt at Mamelodi Sundowns, which will determine what honours are bestowed on his name upon the end of his first full season in charge.

Sundowns play their last game in the Betway Premiership tonight (19:30) at Mbombela Stadium against TS Galaxy.

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Even if they win, they will walk away uncertain whether 71 points will be enough to earn them the league title for the ninth consecutive year.

All they can then do as they go to bed on Tuesday night is wait for Orlando Pirates to play their two remaining games against Durban City on Saturday and then Orbit College FC (May 23).

While that wait will be frustrating, it will be cushioned by the fact that it will happen while they focus on the CAF Champions League final.

The Brazilians have two legs to play against AS FAR on May 17 at Loftus and May 24 in Rabat to determine the new kings of the continent.

Priority for Cardoso will be lifting his first Champions League trophy, which also carries USD6 million (approx. R99 million), as he plays in his third consecutive final.

The Portuguese has been a runner-up in the last two finals, and the scene is perfectly set for third time lucky.

If Sundowns win the Champions League, then there will be no tears in missing out on the league if Pirates end up as the domestic champions.

Disaster will be if they don’t win both.

Then, should the Tshwane giants get both trophies, then they will likely be celebrating two trophies in two days.

For now, Cardoso will move to his 51st league match in charge since taking over at Chloorkop, chasing win number 39.

"It is important to continue winning our matches.

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"There is another one on Tuesday… We will continue to look for points until the last minute of the TS Galaxy match because those points are not only important to keep us for the fight of the championship but to state ourselves in one of the best campaigns that Mamelodi Sundowns has had.

"Let us wait for these three points, and then we will speak in the end," says Cardoso.