Explained: Why Downs' PSL season ends on Tuesday

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has explained why his side's 2025/26 Betway Premiership campaign will come to an end on Tuesday, despite the club being given an opportunity to extend their season slightly.

The Brazilians, who are still on top of the table, will wrap up their domestic campaign when they face TS Galaxy at Mbombela Stadium on Tuesday.

READ: Ex-Pirates coach claims another trophy abroad

Masandawana will then have to wait to see how Orlando Pirates perform in their remaining two games to find out who will be crowned champions, with the two sides still locked in the title race.

Downs' schedule has been heavily influenced by their upcoming CAF Champions League final against Moroccan side AS FAR, with the first leg set for 17 May in Tshwane, before the decisive return leg in Rabat on Sunday, 24 May.

Cardoso has recently voiced concerns about the congested fixture list, urging the PSL to consider rescheduling league matches to allow his team more preparation time for the continental final.

When asked whether it would have been possible for Sundowns to play the TS Galaxy clash between the two legs of the Champions League final, Cardoso was quick to dismiss the idea, describing it as "impossible", before explaining his reasoning.

"No, that would be absolutely impossible. With the travel to the north of Africa, how you can make it, it's absolutely impossible," Cardoso told the media in Tshwane.

"We could do it if we had two teams, one playing here, another one travelling to play there, it's absolutely impossible.

"Of course, that was the possibility that we were given. Even for you to understand, when we came from Esperance, we could not fly in the night because there was no slot to fly in the night.

"We had to fly in the morning but we were told by the PSL that if we would fly in the night, we would have to play immediately after two days.

READ: Bafana next coach? Benni sets record straight

"So, just for you to understand how are the rules and how we are dealing with the reality here," explained the Portuguese tactician.

"But to speak about that, I think the best is when you have the chance to speak with Dr Yogesh [Singh] or maybe Mr Flemming Berg, they can explain you all the details of the things that happened with the PSL. I'm not the best person."